Modi’s Visit to Mauritius Attempts to Counterbalance China’s Regional Influence

ndian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) and his Mauritian counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam in a 2014 file image. Photo by RAVEENDRAN / AFP

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is in Mauritius this week to sign two agreements to expand Indian maritime cooperation with the small Indian Ocean island. The deals are seen as a way for Mauritius to allay its powerful ally’s concerns about growing Chinese sway in the Indian Ocean, which is key to Indian imports and wider influence.

India built an airstrip and jetty on the Mauritian island of Agalega in 2024. The new agreements will enhance naval cooperation and data sharing to secure Mauritian sea lanes. Modi held talks with Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam and signaled Indian support for Mauritius’s claim to the Chagos Islands, which contains the Diego Garcia military base used by the U.S. and UK armies.

  • Get a daily email packed with the latest news and analysis from Africa, Asia, and across the Global South.
  • Read exclusive insights on the key trends shaping China’s relations across the Global South.
  • Full access to the News Feed that provides daily updates on Chinese engagement in the Global South.

China, Africa and the Global South... find out what’s happening.

Subscribe today for unlimited access.

OR

Already a subscriber? Log in Click Here to Learn More
by CGSP Staff

Most Read

1
Developing Countries’ Debt Servicing Costs to China Are Significant, but Nowhere Near as Much as Other Creditors
2
Uncertainty Roils Minerals Markets
3 Chinese Military Fans Discuss Why Indonesia Bought Rafale Instead of J-10C
4 From J-10C to Kaan? Indonesia’s Fighter Jet Deal With Turkey Shocks Chinese Military Fans
5
Indonesia Goes Nuclear, Taps China and Russia for Modular Reactors
6 Chinese Scholars See Russia’s Venezuela Strategy as a Model of Hybrid Power Projection in the U.S.’ Backyard

What is The China-Global South Project?

Independent

The China-Global South Project is passionately independent, non-partisan and does not advocate for any country, company or culture.

News

A carefully curated selection of the day’s most important China-Global South stories. Updated 24 hours a day by human editors. No bots, no algorithms.

Analysis

Diverse, often unconventional insights from scholars, analysts, journalists and a variety of stakeholders in the China-Global South discourse.

Networking

A unique professional network of China-Africa scholars, analysts, journalists and other practioners from around the world.

More about CGSP