NEW DELHI – India’s plans of having a naval base in Seychelles has met witha blow.

It has not made any headway since PM Narendra Modi and President DannyFaure signed an agreement in 2015. A number of domestic factors havecontributed to the delay of a project that is aimed at checking shipping inthe Mozambique Channel.

Speaking to WION in Seychelles’ capital city of Victoria as part of thechannel’s Global Leadership Series, Faure said he continues to believe inthe agreement and its objectives but the domestic situation in his countryhas been a roadblock.

“I am President. I am the head of the Executive, but I do not have amajority in our parliament. I have decided not to submit the agreement tothe National Assembly,” he said. “This doesn’t mean that the ambition of mygovernment, my administration for us to have a coast guard facility onAssumption (the name of the island for the proposed base) does not remain.”

As per the 2015 agreement, the base is to be funded by India and militariesof both countries would share it. It could prove to be a massive strategicshot in the arm for India at a time when China has already developed amilitary base in Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.

Faure though said the roadblocks to having a joint base with India hasnothing to do with China. “We have welcomed all partners and at no timehave we found ourselves under any pressure from the Chinese government,” hesaid, adding that he is grateful to PM Modi for understanding the reasonbehind the delay. “India understands, the Prime Minister understands theSeychelles position and I am happy there hasn’t been any movement wherebythe government of India has tried to influence our domestic politics.”

Nonetheless, with India ready to invest $550 million for a base that couldensure the safety of its merchant vessels, the delay could be bothersome.

And at ground level, a number of factors have contributed to the presentsituation.

News agency AFP reported in March that locals are largely opposed to theidea of a naval base for India. They have been organising protests andwhile some fear influx of Indian workers, others are opposed to the idea ofa foreign military power in their country. There have been concerns aboutthe environmental impact of a naval base as well.