The Prime Ministers of India and Mauritius will inaugurate the new Supreme Court building of Mauritius on 30th July 2020, marking the first Indian-assisted infrastructure project in the capital city of Port Louis. The new Supreme Court Building is anticipated to become an important landmark representing the strong bilateral partnership between these two nations.
Funded Under a Special Economic Package
This project is one of five being implemented under a Special Economic Package worth 353 million USD, which was extended by the Government of India to Mauritius in 2016.
India-Mauritius Relationship: A Historical Overview
Connections between India and Mauritius date back to 1730, with diplomatic ties established even before Mauritius achieved statehood in 1968. The relations encompass various spheres including history, politics, economics, military affairs, social matters, and culture.
A Diaspora-Driven Connection
India views Mauritius largely through the lens of diaspora, due to the significant presence of Indian-origin communities on the island, popularly known as Indo-Mauritians. They constitute more than 68% of the total Mauritian population.
Significance of the Geo-strategic Relationship
India recognises Mauritius’s strategic importance, especially in the context of power dynamics in the Indian Ocean. In 2015, India signed an agreement to establish eight Indian-controlled coastal surveillance radar stations in Mauritius, deepening economic and security cooperation.
Geo-Economic Importance of Mauritius
Mauritius holds essential geo-economic significance due to its central location in the Indian Ocean. It serves as a crucial point for commerce and connectivity. As a member of several regional associations, Mauritius is a gateway to multiple geographies.
Regional Hub and Pivot of Island Policy
Mauritius, flooded with investments from Africa, can serve as a fulcrum for India’s African economic outreach. Delhi sees Mauritius as the pivot of its island policy, facilitating commercial activities in the region.
India-China Rivalry
To keep pace with China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean, India needs to enhance the maritime domain awareness capabilities of littoral states like Mauritius, Maldives, Sri Lanka, and Seychelles.
Challenges in the India-Mauritius Relationship
Although they share deep ties, India must shed the perception of treating Mauritius as an extension of itself. With China aggressively marking its presence in the northern Indian Ocean, India needs to revisit its security-oriented approach towards neighbours.
Global Integration
Being physically cut off from the world, Mauritius experiences the repercussions of global events such as economic crises, trade wars, and declining FDIs. Thus, India’s perspective needs to extend beyond just the maritime security of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
A New Security Architecture
With the changing power dynamics in the IOR, the world increasingly views Mauritius as integral to the new security architecture. As a result, enhancing cooperation with Mauritius is crucial for India to offset efforts by countries like China, USA, Australia, France, and the UK to leverage small nations like Mauritius.
Way Forward
India needs to upgrade its bilateral tax treaty considering that companies registered in Mauritius are the largest source of FDI into India. As India looks to integrate its security cooperation in the south western Indian Ocean, Mauritius stands as the natural node. Course corrections in India’s Neighbourhood First policy are vital to ensure a durable partnership.