The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Ambassador Barry Faure, has held talks with the commanding officer of the Indian Naval Ship Chennai, Captain Suraj James Rebeira. The meeting took place on Thursday, 13 November 2025, at Maison Quéau de Quinssy, with India’s High Commissioner to Seychelles, Rohit Rathish, also in attendance.
Captain Rebeira said the vessel was making its first visit to Seychelles. He briefed Minister Faure on the crew’s recent interception and detention of suspected pirates and outlined the ship’s current deployment in the Western Indian Ocean.According to the captain, INS Chennai is engaged in regional maritime security operations, including anti-piracy patrols and surveillance activities along major shipping routes in the north-western part of the ocean.
Minister Faure expressed appreciation for India’s role in supporting security efforts in the region. He noted the recent increase in piracy incidents in some parts of the Western Indian Ocean and acknowledged India’s contributions to protecting international shipping and countering maritime crime.
Both sides also discussed cooperation between Seychelles and India on maritime security. This included Seychelles’ chairmanship of the Contact Group on Illicit Maritime Activities, collaboration through regional information-sharing mechanisms, and joint work with other partners such as the European Union’s Operation Atalanta to enhance coordinated maritime governance.