Syllabus: International Relations
Source: PIB
Context: India and Mauritius upgraded their ties to an Enhanced Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister visit to Port Louis.
India-Mauritius Diplomatic History:
- Colonial Era & Early Connections (Pre-1947):
- Indian indentured laborers formed the foundation of Indo-Mauritian ties under British rule.
- Mahatma Gandhi’s 1901 visit inspired political consciousness among the Indian diaspora in Mauritius.
- Post-Independence Era (1947–1968):
- India supported Mauritius’s anti-colonial movements and continues to back its territorial claim over Chagos Archipelago.
- India established diplomatic relations with Mauritius following its independence in 1968.
- Economic & Strategic Expansion (1983–2020):
- DTAA (1983) made Mauritius a key FDI gateway for India. India supported maritime security (Coast Guard setup), digital growth, and metro infrastructure.
- Mauritius joined India’s SAGAR initiative in 2020.
- Recent Developments (2021-Present):
- The CECPA (2021) strengthened trade ties, Mauritius joined India’s Indo-Pacific strategy, and ISRO helped launch Mauritius’ first satellite (2022).
- In 2024, India expanded Blue Economy cooperation and revised DTAA to prevent tax treaty abuse.
Key Highlights of the Joint Declaration
- Defence & Maritime Securit
- Refit of Coast Guard Ships: Victory, Valiant, and Barracuda provided on a grant basis.
- Joint Maritime Surveillance: Increased deployment of Indian naval ships and aircraft.
- Security of EEZ: Cooperation on the Agalega runway and jetty to counter China’s presence in the Indian Ocean.
- Infrastructure & Development:
- 100 Electric Buses: Delivery of e-buses and charging infrastructure for clean transport.
- Water Pipeline Project: Replacement of 100 km of water pipelines, backed by a ₹487 crore rupee-denominated line of credit (India’s first-ever rupee-based credit line).
- New Parliament Building: India to gift a new Mauritius Parliament as a symbol of democracy.
- Digital Cooperation & Capacity Building
- E-Judiciary System: India to support digitization of judicial services in Mauritius.
- Police & Civil Services Training: Training 500 Mauritian civil servants in India over five years.
- Cybersecurity & ICT: Collaboration in Digital Public Infrastructure and cyber resilience.
- Health & Education
- Jan Aushadhi Kendras: Expansion of affordable generic medicine stores in Mauritius.
- Ayush Centre of Excellence: Promotion of Indian traditional medicine (AYUSH).
- Education & Research: Cooperation on curriculum development, Science & Technology policies, and research exchanges.
Challenges & Differences:
- China’s Influence: China’s increasing strategic footprint in the Indian Ocean challenges India’s influence in Mauritius.
- Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA): Delays in ratifying amendments to the tax treaty, affecting bilateral trade and investment clarity.
- Geopolitical Balancing: Mauritius maintains neutral diplomatic ties with multiple global powers, making India’s exclusive influence difficult to secure.
- Economic Dependencies: Mauritius seeks economic diversification beyond India, limiting full-scale reliance on Indian trade and investments.
Way Ahead:
- Stronger Defence Cooperation: Expand joint naval exercises and white shipping agreements for regional security.
- Trade and Investment Expansion: Expedite full CECPA implementation to boost bilateral trade and economic diversification.
- Technology Transfer & Green Energy: Promote EV technology, solar power projects, and digital governance initiatives.
- Address Taxation & Economic Concerns: Speed up DTAA ratification and enhance tax transparency to resolve investor concerns.
- Regional Leadership: Strengthen Mauritius-India collaboration in Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) & Colombo Security Conclave.
Conclusion:
India’s transition from SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) to MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) marks its expanding Indo-Pacific strategy, strengthening maritime security, trade, and sustainable growth. This vision fosters regional stability and economic cooperation across the Indian Ocean and Global South.
PYQ:
- Project ‘Mausam’ is considered a unique foreign policy initiative of the Indian Government to improve relationship with its neighbours. Does the project have a strategic dimension? Discuss.
