On Tuesday, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated India’s commitment to supporting Mauritius in its efforts to reclaim the Chagos Archipelago. This statement was made during a visit to Port Louis, Mauritius, where Jaishankar was attending an event alongside Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth.
Key Remarks by Jaishankar
- Commitment to Decolonisation: Jaishankar affirmed that India will maintain its support for Mauritius in line with its stance on decolonisation. He emphasized India’s dedication to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations.
- Support for Sovereignty: He assured Mauritius of continued backing in its quest to exercise sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago, which includes Diego Garcia, a site of strategic importance due to its US military base.
Mauritius’s Perspective
- Gratitude for Support: Prime Minister Jugnauth expressed gratitude for India’s unwavering support in Mauritius’s decolonisation efforts. He highlighted the importance of reclaiming the Chagos Archipelago as part of the broader goal of exercising full sovereignty over Mauritian territory.
- Historical Context: Despite Mauritius’s claim, the Chagos Archipelago is part of the UK’s British Indian Ocean Territory, and Diego Garcia has been leased to the US since the 1960s.
Bilateral Cooperation and Projects
- Community Development Projects: During the visit, Jaishankar and Jugnauth inaugurated 12 community development projects financed by India, primarily focusing on sports facilities.
- Satellite Development: The leaders exchanged a project plan document for the joint development of a satellite, involving collaboration between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council.
- MoUs Signed: Two memorandums of understanding were signed:
- Development of a national institute for curriculum research.
- Establishment of a chair for Sanskrit and Indian philosophy at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute in Mauritius.
- Digital Archives: An understanding was reached for India’s assistance in digitising Mauritius’s immigration archives.
Space Cooperation
- Satellite Benefits: The jointly developed satellite will offer multi-spectral imagery and accurate data for land and sea surface monitoring. This cooperation aims to enhance Mauritius’s space capabilities and data-sharing mechanisms.
- India-Mauritius Space Portal: The establishment of a space portal will provide value-added services and explore new applications of space technologies.
Additional Discussions
- Economic and Financial Cooperation: Jaishankar and Jugnauth discussed various topics including technical and financial assistance, defence and security matters, infrastructure development, and economic cooperation.
- Double Taxation Avoidance: The leaders also reviewed the Mauritius-India double taxation avoidance convention, which plays a crucial role in both countries’ economies.
Conclusion
Jaishankar’s visit to Mauritius underscores the strong bilateral ties between India and Mauritius. He highlighted that Mauritius was among the first countries he visited in his second term as foreign minister, reflecting the importance of their relationship.
Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs):
1. What issue did Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reaffirm India’s support for during his visit to Mauritius?
A) Climate change
B) Chagos Archipelago
C) Trade agreements
D) Maritime security
Answer: B) Chagos Archipelago
2. What strategic significance does Diego Garcia hold?
A) It is a major financial hub.
B) It houses a large civilian research facility.
C) It is the site of a US military base.
D) It is an important cultural landmark.
Answer: C) It is the site of a US military base.
3. What was inaugurated during Jaishankar’s visit to Mauritius?
A) A new embassy
B) 12 community development projects
C) A trade agreement
D) A new military base
Answer: B) 12 community development projects
4. Which organizations are collaborating on the development of the joint satellite project?
A) NASA and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council
B) ISRO and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council
C) ESA and the Indian Space Research Organisation
D) NASA and ISRO
Answer: B) ISRO and the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council
5. What did the MoUs signed during the visit pertain to?
A) Environmental protection
B) Development of a national institute and Sanskrit chair
C) Military cooperation
D) Trade expansion
Answer: B) Development of a national institute and Sanskrit chair