¦ Mrs. Patil’s visit has triggered a lot of debate about our relationship with India. Is India our best friend in the world?

Has it really triggered a debate?

¦ Well, at least a lot of rhetoric. What should the debate be about?

The debate should be about whether the relations between Mauritius and India should continue as they are or whether we should have another look, a critical look, at India which is emerging as an economic and military superpower today.

¦ You mean the talk so far has been emotional rather than rational?

Yes, we talk about Mother India, but we forget that India has ambitions which are global and Mauritius might not be part of that ambition except to the extent that we can assist in the realization of that ambition, for example, by legitimising a naval presence in our seas. India has interests that transcend Mauritian interests.

¦ Does that worry you?

It doesn’t worry me as such. What worries me more is the lack of intellectual input in a critical analysis of what our interests are. The moment we start talking about India, because it is India, we are not critical anymore. We become emotional.

¦ And what’s the problem with being emotional when dealing with a friend?

We should not be emotional when it comes to state relations. State relations have to be looked at dispassionately and in the light of what our interests are. What we are doing now is focusing on India, not as a partner for business or a partner for development, but more because our ancestors happened to come from India.

¦  The majority of people, you mean.

Exactly! Our association with India must be a Mauritian thing, not an Asian or Indo thing. The perception is that the visit of the President of India is more to consolidate the links between India and those who originate from there…

¦ Is that the aim?

It shouldn’t be.

¦ What is the aim of the President’s visit?

(Laughs) I think it’s the fi rst of May.

¦ You mean she’s aware of our folklore?

(Laughs) I don’t know if she is aware, but I believe that the government is capitalizing on her presence to mobilise people for its May Day meeting.

¦ This is the cynical reason. What is the offi cial reason behind the visit of an Indian president?

Well, I think that state visits are important for nurturing state relationships, especially when we say, rightly or wrongly, that we have a special relationship with India.

¦ You are not telling me the full story now. You do not seem to be amused by the passion we are showing for India. What kind of issues should we be examining objectively?

(Outburst of laughter) Well, let’s look back 20 or 30 years. India was fi ghting for the Indian Ocean to be a zone of peace.

Now we don’t talk about a zone of peace. What are the powers in the region? France, the United States, India and increasingly China. China is investing heavily in countries like Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh, developing their ports and other facilities, so, in a way, India feels threatened.

It is being encircled by Chinese interests and presence. So India also wants to expand its military projection in the region.

There is nothing wrong with that. All super powers do that. But what is the likelihood of India fi ghting a war, let’s say, against Pakistan,  on one front, and against China on another front. India can manage militarily to fi ght two wars. What will happen to our special relationship then, if we happen to be involved in some kind of confl ict with China? Or let’s assume something else.

Let’s assume that tomorrow with the JinFei project, we have a major issue with China.

Will India immediately come to our help? Or will India look at its own interests visà- vis China before coming to the help of Mauritius?

¦ And the answer to that is clear according to you.

Of course it’s clear. In the balance of power, Mauritius does not count.

¦ Are you also apprehensive about the Indian presence in Agalega? How much of these rumours is true according to you?

Well, I don’t know how much is true. But if you look at it again dispassionately,

I have no problem if tomorrow Mauritius and India were to negotiate a deal with regard to the development of Agalega as a military base for the Indian Navy or Indian military. I have no problem with that, as long as the sovereignty of Mauritius is not an issue and there are adequate safeguards.

¦ No problem at all?

Well, as long as we retain the right to put an end to any facility and as long as we get something in return for it. I don’t want a deal like Diego Garcia, where we had and still have no say at all on the management of the environment, fi sheries, tourism etc.

So I think there is nothing wrong, and that is why I say that the projection of India as a military power in the Indian Ocean is buttressed by its close affi nity and relations with Mauritius.

¦ And it shouldn’t be?

I’m not saying it shouldn’t. I think every big power would like to have friends, and Mauritius is a friend to India, and I think there is no harm in consolidating this friendship. I personally see no problem if India were to have a base for military facilities in Agalega. It’s going to be a counterweight to Diego Garcia. The issue remains whether such a development is likely to heighten tension and start an arms race in the Indian Ocean.

¦ Is it?

Not right now because the US and India are on the best of terms. (Laughter) So I don’t see any problem with regard to that.

¦ When you say that you laugh. What’s wrong with India and the US being on the same page?

Well, the US looks at its strategic interests globally. So when the US looks at the world and especially at a region like India, what does it see? It sees China emerging as a major power, both militarily, economically and population wise. And India is also emerging as a major power. Technically, there are border disputes between India and China. These can fl are up any time. With the visits that take place between Beijing and New Delhi on a regular basis, I don’t know if that is an issue anymore because they believe, rightly, that there is more to gain by cooperation than by confrontation.

However, the US also sees China as a potential challenger.The great strides made by China in outer space technology are another source of worry both to the US and India. China is already a power in outer space and it has the capability to send satellites from outer space. India and the US have common interests in respect of China.

International terrorism is another factor that brings these powers together. They are the largest democracies and share common values.

But there is no doubt that the improved relationship between the US and India is another strategic signal being sent to Russia which is no more the power that it used to be. The recent rapprochement between China and Russia is another reason for the warming of ties between India and the US.

Should there be any major confl ict between the US and China, the US would prefer India as an ally. But what if China and India were to get together militarily?

Interviewed by Touria Prayag

Touria Prayag