New Indian Defence Attaché to Seychelles calls on Foreign Affairs minister |05 August 2023
Minister Radegonde welcomes Captain Velagada to the Maison Quéau de Quinssy
As a valued partner in military cooperation, the Minister responsible for Foreign Affairs, Sylvestre Radegonde, received the new Defence Attaché of India to Seychelles, Captain Shirdikant Velagada.
The Defence Attaché is in Seychelles to attend the 11th High-Level Joint Defence Co-ordination Committee (HLJDCC).
Minister Radegonde reiterated the government’s appreciation to India as a commendable partner in military cooperation during the meeting on Thursday, August 3, 2023, at Maison Quéau de Quinssy.
“Along with the collaborations and joint operations, officers of the Seychelles Defence Forces have benefited from various capacity-building training. Let us work on identifying where our interests converge to develop cooperation further,” said Minister Radegonde.
The minister also stated his appreciation for India’s military participation in the Seychelles National Day parade and the recent joint EEZ surveillance by the INS Trishal with the Seychelles Coast Guard.
On his end, Captain Velagada acknowledged the upright progression in the search and rescue operations of the Seychelles Defence Forces and reassured India’s continued support towards Seychelles security.
Other topics addressed were the surveillance challenges of the Seychelles EEZ and the growing concerns about illegal activities at sea.
It should be noted the HLJDCC, co-chaired by the Defence Attaché for India to Seychelles and the Chief of Defence Forces, Brigadier Michael Rosette, is the main mechanism which oversees on-going defence cooperation between Seychelles and India.
