Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Krishna Swaminathan has begun a four-day official visit to Mauritius from August 10 to August 13, 2026, as India looks to further strengthen its longstanding maritime and defence partnership with the island nation. The visit comes amid New Delhi’s continued efforts to expand cooperation with key maritime partners across the Indian Ocean Region.
During his visit, Admiral Swaminathan is scheduled to hold discussions with senior Mauritian leaders and defence officials on areas of mutual interest. The engagement is expected to focus on strengthening bilateral defence cooperation, maritime security, capacity building and closer coordination between the two countries’ maritime forces.
India and Mauritius share longstanding maritime ties, supported by regular interactions, training programmes, operational cooperation and initiatives aimed at improving maritime domain awareness. Cooperation between the two countries also covers areas such as surveillance of Mauritius’ Exclusive Economic Zone, hydrographic assistance and naval engagements.
Mauritius holds strategic importance in the wider Indian Ocean maritime environment, and stronger cooperation with the country forms an important part of India’s efforts to promote a secure and stable regional maritime order. The Indian Navy has maintained regular engagement with Mauritius through port visits, training and participation in regional maritime initiatives.
The two countries have also worked together through platforms and exercises including the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, MILAN, International Fleet Review, Goa Maritime Conclave, IOS SAGAR and Exercise AIKEYME. Such engagements provide opportunities to improve interoperability, exchange operational experience and strengthen coordination on common maritime security concerns.
Admiral Swaminathan’s Mauritius visit also reflects India’s broader MAHASAGAR vision, which places emphasis on mutual growth and security among countries in the Indian Ocean and beyond. Through defence cooperation, capacity building and maritime partnerships, India has been seeking to contribute to greater regional stability while supporting the capabilities of friendly maritime nations.
The visit is expected to provide fresh momentum to the India-Mauritius defence relationship and reinforce cooperation in maritime security, operational coordination and capacity development. It also highlights the Indian Navy’s continuing role in strengthening India’s strategic partnerships across the Indian Ocean Region.