Strategic and Diplomatic Bilateral Relations between India and Mauritius under the Modi 3.0 Regime

Abstract

Mauritius, a key member of the African Union and strategically located in the Indian Ocean along Africa’s eastern coast, has long maintained a unique and enduring partnership with India. This paper examines the historical evolution and recent developments in this bilateral relationship, with particular emphasis on the Modi 3.0 regime. While successive Indian governments have nurtured cordial ties with Mauritius, the current phase under Prime Minister Narendra Modi is marked by a more assertive and multidimensional approach, linking strategic, economic, cultural, and technological cooperation. India has consistently demonstrated its role as a first responder in times of crisis, most notably during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Wakashio oil spill disaster, thereby strengthening its position as a trusted partner.

A defining feature of this relationship is the deep-rooted diasporic bond: nearly 70 percent of Mauritius’s population is of Indian origin. This demographic connection provides not only cultural intimacy but also a socio-political foundation that ensures continuity in bilateral relations regardless of regime changes in either country. This paper traces the initiatives undertaken since 2014 to expand cooperation across political, economic, defence, cultural, and space domains, while highlighting how India–Mauritius relations are likely to evolve under Modi 3.0. By situating these relations within India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and Africa’s Agenda 2063, the paper argues that Indo-Mauritian ties represent both a civilizational bond and a strategic necessity for regional stability in the Indian Ocean.