Foreign relations of Seychelles

Seychelles
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Seychelles follows a policy of what it describes as "positive" nonalignment and strongly supports the principle of reduced superpower presence in the Indian Ocean. The Seychelles government is one of the proponents of the Indian Ocean zone of peace concept and it has promoted an end to the United States presence on Diego Garcia. The country has adopted a pragmatic policy, however, and serves as an important rest and recreation stop for US ships serving in the Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean. Seychelles' foreign policy position has placed it generally toward the left of the spectrum within the Non-Aligned Movement. Russia, the United Kingdom, France, India, the People's Republic of China, Libya and Cuba maintain embassies in Victoria.

The government of the Seychelles withdrew diplomatic recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic on March 17, 2008, according to an official government source.^[1]

Bilateral relations

France

Embassy of Seychelles in Paris

Seychelles has an embassy in Paris. Seychelles claims the French-owned Glorioso Islands in the Indian Ocean.

China

Seychelles has an embassy in Beijing. The Seychelles government in November 2011 offered China rights to establish a naval base to supply its anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden.^[2]

India

In an effort to reduce increasing piracy in the nearby region, Seychelles requested Indian Navy to carry out anti piracy operations in her waters.^[3] This made India-Seychelles relations stronger. The Seychelles also praised the Indian Navy for their anti-piracy operations.^[3]

Malaysia

Seychelles has a high commission in Subang Jaya.^[4]

Russia

Diplomatic relations between Seychelles and the Soviet Union were established on 30 June 1976, a day after the island nation gained its independence from the United Kingdom.^[5] Russia has an embassy in Victoria.^[6] Seychelles is represented in Russia through its embassy in Paris (France) and an honorary consulate in Saint Petersburg.

South Africa

Seychelles has a High Commission in Pretoria.

United Kingdom

Britain assumed control of the Seychelles upon the surrender of Mauritius in 1812 and this was formalised in 1814 at the Treaty of Paris. The Seychelles became a crown colony separate from Mauritius in 1903 and independence was granted in 1976, as a republic within the Commonwealth.

United States

Peace Corps Volunteers served in Seychelles between 1974 and 1995. A U.S. consulate was opened in May 1976 and became an Embassy after Seychelles' independence in June 1976. The Embassy was subsequently closed in August 1996, and the United States opened a consular agency on September 2, 1996 to provide services to residents of Seychelles. The agency is under the supervision of the American Embassy in Port Louis, Mauritius. The U.S. Ambassador to Mauritius also is accredited to Seychelles.  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Department of State (Background Notes).

Vietnam

President James Alix Michel’s official visited to Vietnam in August, 2013 at the invitation of President Truong Tan Sang. The statement says this is second official visited to Vietnam made by a high-ranking leader of Seychelles in the last 33 years.^[7]

The Seychelles and the Commonwealth of Nations

The Seychelles is a member state of the Commonwealth of Nations.

See also

• List of diplomatic missions in Seychelles
• List of diplomatic missions of Seychelles

References

Foreign relations of Seychelles Bilateral relations China India Kenya Malaysia North Korea Russia United States Diplomatic missions Diplomatic missions of / in Seychelles