 "In this image received on Sept. 11, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi with his Mauritius counterpart Navinchandra Ramgoolam during a bilateral meeting, in Varanasi. PMO")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that India and Mauritius are committed to establishing a free, open, secure, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean, as he held a joint press conference with his counterpart Navin Ramgoolam.
After holding bilateral talks with Ramgoolam in Varanasi, who is on an official visit to India, PM Modi said, “A free, open, secure, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean is our common priority. India is fully committed to strengthening the security and maritime capacity of Mauritius’s Exclusive Economic Zone. India has always stood as the first responder and a security provider in the Indian Ocean region.”
He also announced a collaboration between the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, the Indian Institute of Plantation Management and the University of Mauritius to achieve the joint goal of securing the Indian Ocean.
Ramgoolam is currently on a state visit to India from September 9 to 16. It is his first overseas bilateral visit to India in his present term. He will also visit Ayodhya and Tirupati.
The two leaders held discussions on crucial matters of bilateral cooperation, with a particular focus on development partnership and capacity building, according to an official statement.
They also explored collaboration in health, education, science and technology, energy, infrastructure, as well as in emerging domains such as renewable energy, digital public infrastructure and the blue economy.
PM Modi hails Chagos deal
PM Modi also congratulated Ramgoolam and the people of Mauritius on the conclusion of the Chagos agreement, describing it as a “historic victory” for the island nation’s sovereignty.
“India has always supported decolonisation and the full recognition of Mauritius’s sovereignty. And in this, India has stood firmly with Mauritius,” he said.
In May, the United Kingdom decided to hand over the sovereignty of the Chagos Islands, including the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, to Mauritius under a historic deal.
The UK is giving up the rights of the islands after more than 50 years.
Under the agreement, the UK will have full responsibility for the security of strategically-located Diego Garcia.