PM to visit Seychelles this week as Guest of Honour for National Day Celebrations

Published 25 June 2026 · politics

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a three-day State visit to Seychelles from June 27 to 29, where he will attend the Golden Jubilee celebrations

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a three-day State visit to Seychelles from June 27 to 29, where he will attend the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the island nation's Day as the Guest of Honour and hold wide-ranging talks with President Patrick Herminie to further strengthen bilateral ties. The visit, announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday, marks the Prime Minister's first visit to Seychelles in over a decade, following his last trip to the Indian Ocean nation in 2015. Read Full Story The trip comes at a time when India is seeking to deepen its strategic engagement in the Indian Ocean Region under its Vision Mahasagar (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).

Invited by Seychelles President Patrick Herminie, Prime Minister Modi will participate in the country's 50th Day celebrations, underscoring the close diplomatic and strategic partnership between the two nations. A contingent of the Indian armed forces, along with two Indian Navy ships, will also take part in the commemorative events. During the visit, PM Modi and President Herminie are expected to review the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation, including maritime security, defence, development partnership, capacity building and economic collaboration. The two leaders will also exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest, particularly developments in the Indian Ocean Region and cooperation among Global South countries.

Besides official engagements, the Prime Minister will address the Assembly of Seychelles and interact with members of the Indian diaspora, highlighting India's longstanding people-to-people and cultural ties with the archipelago. In a statement, the government said India and Seychelles share a longstanding partnership rooted in shared historical, cultural and people-to-people connections. "As a key maritime neighbour in the Indian Ocean region, Seychelles holds a special place in India’s Vision Mahasagar and our commitment to the Global South," the ministry said. The MEA added the visit is expected to reaffirm the strong and enduring friendship between the two countries and reinforce their shared commitment to expanding bilateral cooperation across sectors.

India has been one of Seychelles' key development partners, supporting infrastructure projects, maritime security, coastal surveillance, healthcare, education and capacity building. The two countries have also maintained close defence cooperation, with India assisting Seychelles in enhancing its maritime capabilities and safeguarding the western Indian Ocean. Ends