New Delhi: Amid the ongoing energy crisis due to the conflict in West Asia, India is finalising a deal to supply oil and gas to Mauritius, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced Thursday. India will also appoint a defence attache to its High Commission in Mauritius, as it seeks to firm up its strategic interests in the Indian Ocean Region.
“The ongoing crisis in West Asia, as the Hon’ble Prime Minister (of Mauritius) reminded us, has underscored the importance of strategic partnerships, especially in the energy sector. We are finalising a government to government agreement for the supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing the energy security of Mauritius,” Jaishankar said in a statement to the media after calling on Mauritian Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam.
India continues to aid in the stabilisation of the supply of critical energy to its partners in the subcontinent and the Indian Ocean. India has already sent roughly 38,000 metric tonnes of fuel to Sri Lanka last month, while it has supplied Bangladesh with an additional 5,000 tonnes of diesel, with more expected to be sent through this month.
India has also remained engaged with Nepal and Bhutan on the supply of petroleum products.
Ramgoolam in his own remarks to the press highlighted that Mauritius has raised the issue of supply of petroleum products from India during his two recent visits to the country in September 2025 and February 2026.
Jaishankar’s two-day visit to Mauritius began Thursday, with the Indian External Affairs Minister set to address the 9th Indian Ocean Conference organised by the government of Mauritius and India Foundation Friday.
The visit to Port Louis also affords Jaishankar to meet with a number of West Asian leaders who are in attendance of the Indian Ocean Conference.
Foreign Minister of Oman Badr Hamad Al Busaidi, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Waleed Elkhereiji and Mohamed Abu Bakr, and the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister for African Affairs from Egypt are all participating in the Indian Ocean Conference Friday.
Jaishankar is expected to meet with all of them, as India continues its outreach to the key players of the West Asia conflict. Jaishankar is set to travel to the United Arab Emirates from Mauritius, while Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri is in Qatar Thursday and Friday for a two-day visit.
My statement to the media in Mauritius today.
🇮🇳 🇲🇺 https://t.co/9qz2piD3D7
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 9, 2026
The two-week ceasefire between the US, Israel and Iran remains fragile. Israel has maintained that Lebanon is not a part of the ceasefire deal, which has led to push back from Tehran.
The Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed, impacting the supply of roughly a fifth of global energy needs. Delegations from the US and Iran are set to meet in Islamabad Friday for direct negotiations to find a permanent solution to the crisis.
Also Read: Asian nations jockey for leverage to re-open Strait of Hormuz
Defence & maritime cooperation
New Delhi has also sought to deepen its security relationship with Port Louis, as China has made deep inroads in the island nation, through investments, trade and economic support.
In the past, India has aided development of an airstrip and jetty in Agalega Island, to help Mauritius be better prepared for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions.
New Delhi’s latest step to appoint a defence attache at its High Commission in Port Louis further underlines the growing strategic importance of Mauritius as a part of India’s larger maritime vision.
“Defence and maritime cooperation form another vital pillar of our bilateral ties. During this visit, we just saw the presentation of a payment of $45,000 representing the revenues earned from the Mauritian nautical charts, produced by our joint hydrography service.
“This is a tangible reflection of the trust and mutual benefit that defines our maritime cooperation. I am also happy to announce that we would be very soon positioning a defence attache in Mauritius,” said Jaishankar.
India continues to cooperate with Mauritius to protect Port Louis’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) along with conducting joint maritime surveillance, hydrographic surveys and patrolling of its waters.
India also announced that it would refit Mauritius’ coast guard ships Barracuda, Valiant and Victory on the basis of grants, last year during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Port Louis.
During the meeting between Jaishankar and Ramgoolam, the two leaders discussed ways to firm up India’s promised support of $680 million to Port Louis, announced last September as part of a “special economic package.”
The package includes aid in healthcare infrastructure projects, supply of helicopters, completion of construction works and development of road projects across the island country.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Also Read: With Modi’s MAHASAGAR pitch, India ramps up bid to be key security partner in ‘Global South’