New Delhi, Dec 19 (UNI) Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will be on a three-day official visit to Mauritius from tomorrow, in the first high-level engagement between the two sides after formation of a new government under Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam last month.
The visit comes amid reports that the new government of Mauritius has submitted changes to a proposed deal over the future of the Chagos Islands, with Mauritius PM Ramgoolam saying the original agreement signed by his predecessor Pravind Jugnauth did not benefit his country enough.
According to the terms of the agreement, which was announced in October, the UK would relinquish sovereignty to Mauritius over the Indian Ocean archipelago but maintain a 99-year lease over Diego Garcia, home to a major UK-US naval and bomber base in the Indian Ocean.
However, the deal was finalized shortly before an election in which then-Prime Minister Jugnauth lost in a landslide defeat.
His successor Navin Ramgoolam has said he had reservations about the deal, which has also attracted criticism from the opposition Conservative party in the UK and officials in the incoming Trump administration.
When the agreement was first made public after years of talks, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Jugnauth called it a “seminal moment in our relationship and a demonstration of our enduring commitment to the peaceful resolution of disputes and the rule of law”.
However, soon after coming into office last month, Ramgoolam asked legal experts to review the terms of the deal.
On Wednesday, the UK government said it still plans to hand over the contested Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius.
The Chagos Islands is a chain of more than 60 islands just south of the equator off the tip of India.
India had welcomed the Chagos deal.
On November 11, PM Modi had spoken on the phone with Navinchandra Ramgoolam and congratulated him on his historic victory in the General elections.
During the call, PM Modi had reiterated India’s commitment to support the prosperity and well-being of the people of Mauritius.
The Foreign Secretary’s visit is a continuation of the regular high level exchanges between the two countries and reflects the priority India attaches to its relation with Mauritius under its Vision SAGAR, Africa Forward policy and commitment to Global South, a statement said.
India and Mauritius share age-old ties rooted in shared history, culture and tradition and encompasses cooperation across several sectors. The visit will be an opportunity to further advance our bilateral ties with Mauritius.
On December 17, new Indian High Commissioner to Mauritius Anurag Srivastava presented his Credentials to the President of Mauritius Dharambeer Gokhool at the State House in Réduit.
In his remarks, the Indian High Commissioner elaborated on the areas of cooperation both Governments are focusing on, highlighting traditional sectors such as health and education, as well as diverse fields like digital technologies and disaster management.
He dwelt on the Indian assistance provided following Cyclone Chido and reiterated the commitment to working closely and strongly with the Government of Mauritius, all stakeholders, and the people of Mauritius to strengthen and advance these special, enduring ties.
