December 12, 2020 Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s recent visit to Seychelles is seen as a fresh attempt by New Delhi to set up a military base in the island nation in view of China’s growing influence in the Indian Ocean Region. Underlining the importance of the ties with the former British colony, Jaishankar had called on Seychelles’ newly-elected President, Wavel Ramkalawan. Experts see this as an opportunity for India to revive the agreement to build military facilities on the Assumption Island, reported to be worth around $550 million, for the purpose of monitoring the Mozambique Channel. Interestingly, it was the country’s opposition, then led by Ramkalawan, that had stalled the proposed agreement with India in 2018.