India is setting up military bases in Africa to counter China

Location of Seychelles
Map: Wikipedia

India is going to build the first military base on foreign soil. The country is now building military bases in Africa to increase its military presence outside the country.
India's foreign ministry has signed an agreement with the Seychelles. Seychelles is located about two and a half thousand kilometers south of the Horn of Africa. Seychelles, island republic in the western Indian Ocean, comprising about a hundred and fifteen islands, with lush tropical vegetation, stunning beaches, and a vast range of marine life.The major islands of Seychelles are located about 1,600 km east of Kenya and about 1,100 km northeast of Madagascar. The capital, Victoria, is situated on the island of Mahé.
 Seychelles on google maps:
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Seychelles/@-5.7896669,55.1215358,4z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x225c21fd70bead3b:0x32d3d0a0d349daf7?gl=bd

India plans to build a military base to counter China. India's military base in Africa will cause discomfort to China.

Prior to the signing of the agreement, the Seychelles cabinet approved a proposal to build an Indian military base on Assumption Island. After that both countries signed a formal agreement.

Foreign Secretary S Jayashankar represented India at the signing ceremony in Victoria, Seychelles on January 26. The agreement is now awaiting final approval in the Seychelles parliament.

Defense experts say the deal is important not only for Seychelles, but also for India. China is rapidly increasing its military presence in the Indian Ocean. They have built ports and infrastructure in different countries around India.

India has also taken some countermeasures. India has increased its military presence outside the country and in various parts of the Indian Ocean. But China has set up military bases in the strategically important Horn of Africa in the past year. The news was not very comforting for India.

It became imperative for Delhi to build a large military infrastructure in the western part of the Indian Ocean. Eventually an agreement was signed to implement this goal. Seychelles is located about 2450km south of Chinese base Djibouti.

India has been granted clearance to build a full-fledged military infrastructure in Assumption Island. War experts believe the deal will raise China's blood pressure.

India is expanding its contacts with many countries in the East and West with the aim of increasing its military presence in the Indian Ocean. The Indian Navy has a regular presence in the eastern part of the Indian Ocean in Vietnam, Brunei and the Philippines.

India also wanted to increase its military presence in the western part of the Indian Ocean. That's why New Delhi has been talking with the Seychelles and Mauritius for a long time.

India signed the agreement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Seychelles in 2015. But the proposal to implement the agreement stalled in the Seychelles parliament. The agreement has been pending since then.

James Mitchell, the president who signed the agreement, resigned in 2016 and Danny Farrey became the new president. In 2016, Danny Farrey said that although the agreement was legal for India, it was not in Seychelles.

Farrey indicated that he would have to rethink the deal. Then India became active again. Jayashankar visited the country last October. He sat in meetings not only with the president, but also with the opposition.

A number of amendments were made to the agreement in consultation with both parties. Danny Fare and Bevel Ramkalaban, the Leader of the Opposition, both gave the green light to the terms of the agreement.

#Indian military bases outside India