The Indian Navy’s vessel, IOS SAGAR, has successfully concluded a significant port call to Port Louis, Mauritius, from April 26 to 28, 2025. This visit is part of India’s ongoing efforts to strengthen maritime diplomacy and enhance its partnership with the island nation. It aligns with India’s SAGAR initiative, which aims at promoting security and growth for all in the Southwest Indian Ocean Region (SW-IOR).
During its two-day stay, IOS SAGAR actively collaborated with the Mauritius Coast Guard in a joint Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) surveillance operation. This operation underscored the Indian Navy’s commitment to collaborative maritime governance and its established role as a reliable security partner in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The Commanding Officer of IOS SAGAR engaged with the Commandant of the Mauritius Coast Guard to reaffirm India’s dedication to enhancing joint maritime capabilities. The visit included a series of professional and cultural exchanges aimed at fostering strong people-to-people ties, highlighted by a joint yoga session and a friendly volleyball match between the crew and the Mauritius Police Force (MPF). These activities were themed “Bridges of Friendship,” reflecting the spirit of camaraderie between the two nations.
Crew members from IOS SAGAR also toured various essential MPF facilities, such as the Coast Guard Training School and the Maritime Air Squadron, among others. These exchanges facilitated the sharing of best practices and deepened understanding of operational frameworks and strategic objectives on both sides.
In an effort to enhance public outreach, the ship opened its doors to MPF personnel, members of the Indian diaspora, and local Mauritian groups. Visitors were given guided tours of IOS SAGAR, providing them insights into its operational roles, technological capabilities, and the life of sailors at sea. Such interactions symbolize transparency and goodwill, further building bilateral trust between India and Mauritius.
Adding a recreational aspect to their visit, the crew embarked on a trek to Mauritius’s iconic Signal Mountain, illustrating the Indian Navy’s holistic approach to naval diplomacy, which blends strategy, community, and cultural activities.
This port call continues a legacy of close Indo-Mauritian maritime cooperation that began in 2009, characterized by regular joint EEZ surveillance missions. Recent infrastructure developments such as the inauguration of a new airstrip and jetty on the Mauritian archipelago of Agaléga in 2024 stand as significant milestones in the bilateral defense collaboration.
The visit by IOS SAGAR signifies India’s proactive maritime outreach in the IOR and emphasizes its evolving role as a “Preferred Security Partner” and “First Responder” for island and coastal nations in the region. It also reaffirms India’s strategic commitment to nurturing a stable, secure, and inclusive maritime neighborhood through sustained engagement and cooperation with its partners.
