In a world marked by geopolitical tension, paucity of Western aid, climate change, and emerging centres of influence, small island states are not passive observers. They are actively forging partnerships that enhance resilience, security, and opportunity. The evolving relationship between Seychelles and larger states illustrates how strategic diplomacy can position small states effectively in a changing global order.
We are after all located in the Indian Ocean
In 2015, I wrote: “If we want the game to change then India is a game changer.” I said these words in the context of the Blue Economy. I also observed that “Seychelles and India have a common front yard—the Indian Ocean. So it’s a no-brainer that we should seek more than just good neighbourly ties with this scientifically advanced and economically dynamic nation.” A decade later, those words feel even more relevant as the global landscape continues to shift, and India is projected to become the world’s third largest economy in the next decade.
President Patrick Herminie’s state visit to India in February 2026 came at a symbolic moment: the fiftieth anniversary of Seychelles’ independence and of diplomatic relations between Victoria and New Delhi. During the visit, the two countries launched the India–Seychelles Joint Vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages, or SESEL, a framework designed to deepen cooperation in maritime security, economic development, and institutional capacity.
This partnership builds on an expanding architecture of cooperation. In 2025, Seychelles joined the Colombo Security Conclave, an India-led platform addressing maritime safety, terrorism, transnational crime, cyber security, and humanitarian assistance in the Indian Ocean. Seychelles has also benefited from initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and has expressed interest in joining the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure. At the global level, Seychelles is seeking India’s support in advocating for a Multidimensional Vulnerability Index that better reflects the structural vulnerabilities of small island states than the blunt use of GDP.
Recent months have seen further diplomatic and economic engagement. The Seychelles Vice President attended the Global AI Summit in New Delhi; a delegation, which included myself, led by Minister Geralda Desaubin, participated in the Global Economic Cooperation meeting in Mumbai; and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Barry Faure represented Seychelles at the Raisina Dialogue.
Practical cooperation is also deepening. Under the SESEL vision, India will assist in establishing the Seychelles Hydrographic Unit, strengthening the country’s capacity to map and manage its vast Exclusive Economic Zone.
Islands in a multipolar world
But India is not the only partner in view. Small island states are navigating an increasingly multipolar world, and recent ODI Global survey work based on officials from 29 SIDS found that China is now regarded as the most valued bilateral partner among respondents. That finding is a reminder that many island states are diversifying their relationships in response to shifting global power, changing aid patterns, and the search for more flexible and responsive partnerships. For Seychelles, which this year also marked 50 years of diplomatic relations with China and recently secured a new Chinese development grant, the lesson is not about choosing one power over another. It is about widening strategic space and building a broader network of cooperation.
The same applies to relations with the Gulf states. As war rages in the Middle East, Seychelles has called for dialogue, de-escalation, and regional stability, while also taking concrete steps to monitor the economic and security fallout from the conflict. That posture reflects more than caution. It reflects solidarity with a region whose stability matters deeply to Seychelles, tied to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), shipping, energy, aviation, and trade routes.
In a turbulent international system, small states such as Seychelles cannot afford diplomatic narrowness; they must cultivate constructive relations across multiple centres of influence.