Seychelles marked fifty years of independence even as both nations marked fifty years of diplomatic relations established in 1976. Modi’s last visit, in 2015, had set the template for India’s outreach to Indian Ocean island states; this return — only the second by an Indian prime minister since 1981 — signalled that it has moved from a foreign-policy footnote to a recurring engagement, even if the eleven-year gap leaves room for more frequent high-level contact going forward. The highlights were unusually rich for a National Day visit. Modi stood as Guest of Honour at the Golden Jubilee parade, where an Indian Armed Forces contingent marched alongside Seychellois troops and two Indian Navy warships anchored offshore — a quiet but pointed reminder of Delhi’s naval reach. More........

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