India has given to Seychelles a Dornier maritime reconnaissance aircraft for surveillance and anti-piracy missions in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)that is plagued by piracy threats in and around the Gulf of Aden.
India’s security interest in the Maldives
The proximity of the country to the Indian island cluster of Lakshadweep makes it important for coastal security. The Maldives can also offer India logistics support and extend the Indian naval footprint and significantly, by offering their facilities, can extend the Indian maritime airspace surveillance capability.
Indian Navy to handover FAC Topaz to Seychelles
Formerly the Indian Naval Ship Tarmugli, the vessel was commissioned in 2002, after being built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders. It was given to the Seychelles as a goodwill gesture in 2005 and was recently undergoing a three month refit.
