Opinion | PM Modi’s Oceanic Diplomacy: Why Indonesia And Seychelles Matter

PM Modi’s visits exemplify oceanic diplomacy at its most effective — rooted in history, driven by shared interests and oriented towards a prosperous, secure maritime future.

“Our vision is to make the Indian Ocean an Ocean of Opportunity" — Narendra Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s back-to-back State visits to Seychelles (27–29 June 2026) and Indonesia (6–8 July 2026) represent a deliberate and high-impact exercise in what can aptly be termed “oceanic diplomacy". These trips underscore India’s evolving maritime strategy, blending security, economic cooperation, sustainable development and cultural affinity across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and the broader Indo-Pacific.

'Bond Rooted In Ramayana, Mahabharat': PM Modi Highlights India-Indonesia Cultural Connect

PM Modi In Indonesia: Here's How India-Indonesia Trade Has Changed In Recent Years

'Golden Chapter': PM Modi Says India-Indonesia Partnership Will Have Profound Impact On 21st-Century World

India, Indonesia Ink Election Cooperation Pact, New Delhi To Help Jakarta Develop Customised EVMs

The Seychelles visit marked the golden jubilee of its independence and reinforced India’s role as a net security provider and development partner in the western Indian Ocean. The Indonesia trip, the first leg of a three-nation tour that also includes Australia and New Zealand, elevated the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), established in 2018, to new heights through landmark defence deals, critical minerals cooperation and connectivity projects.

Together, these engagements advance Modi’s vision, rooted in SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region, articulated in 2015) and its evolution into MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), of transforming the Indian Ocean into an “Ocean of Opportunity" for all littoral states. They also align with India’s Act East Policy, its commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific and the broader goal of positioning India as a leading voice of the Global South.

For Indonesia, the shared civilisational heritage is profound — Hindu-Buddhist influences are evident in the Borobudur and Prambanan temples, the Ramayana and Mahabharata epics, and centuries of trade across the Indian Ocean. Indonesia’s name itself derives from “Indus" and “Nesos" (island). Modern relations began with diplomatic ties in 1949 and were upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Modi’s 2018 visit to Jakarta.

As for Seychelles, an archipelago nation in the western Indian Ocean with a significant Indian-origin population, India has long supported it through capacity-building in defence, hydrography and disaster........

© News18