FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Given the threat of piracy in the Indian Ocean region, Seychelles has reached out to the international community for assistance and has significantly strengthened its ties with the U.S., the U.K., France, the EU, India, and China. The Government of Seychelles has entered into multiple agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with various international partners, including the U.S., to attempt to protect its borders and its tourism and fishing-based economy, which is directly impacted by piracy in the region.
The Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, France, India, China, and Cuba maintain embassies in Victoria. Seychelles has an ambassador resident in New York dually accredited to the United Nations and to the United States and Canada. It also has a resident ambassador to France and Belgium. In early 2007, the Seychelles Government announced the opening of new missions in South Africa, China, Italy, and India.
Seychelles is a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Nonaligned Movement (NAM), the African Union, Commonwealth, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), La Francophonie, and the UN and some of its specialized and related agencies. It is also a member of the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) group and is closely aligned with SIDS on issues related to climate change and global warming.
U.S.-SEYCHELLES
RELATIONS
The year 1963 marked the beginning of an official U.S. presence in Seychelles when the U.S. Air Force Tracking Station was built and put into operation on Mahe on land leased from the Seychelles Government. The station's complement consisted of five uniformed Air Force personnel (two officers and three sergeants), 65 employees of Loral Corporation and Johnson Instruments, and 150 Seychellois employees. The USAF Tracking Station officially closed down on September 30, 1996.
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.
DEFENSE
Seychelles has a small security and defense force, which includes a National
Guard Force, the Seychelles People's Defense Forces (SPDF), the Presidential
Protection Unit, the 100-person-strong Coast Guard, 35 Marines, and 575 police
officers. The police force includes an armed paramilitary Police Mobile Unit.
The president controls the security apparatus.
The Seychelles Coast Guard (SCG), which was created in 1992, assumes many of the maritime roles commonly associated with the U.S. Coast Guard. The SCG has responsibility for search and rescue for vessel incidents, environmental protection from the Port and Marine Services Division, and the counter-piracy mission in the 1.3 million square kilometer exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The SCG has two primary operational vessels: the Italian-built Andromache and the Indian-built Topaz, both with crews of approximately 25. Most other vessels, including three of four ex-U.S. Coast Guard Motor Life Boats and the luxury yacht Gemini that was formerly used as the presidential yacht, remain non-operational due to limited manpower and the need to keep the two primary vessels operational.
The air wing of the defense force separated from the Coast Guard in 1997. It does not have any dedicated aircraft, but it sometimes supplies pilots and aircrews to fly search and rescue missions. The wing’s primary duty is to train pilots. The Island Development Corporation (IDC) maintains the pool of aircraft, generating income through charter services. The aircraft inventory includes one Defender, one Cessna 150, and one Beech 1900. An Air Seychelles Twin Otter will also assist with maritime patrol.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials (all officers resident in Port Louis, Mauritius)
Charge d’Affaires--Virginia Blaser
Management Officer--Tim Bashor
Public Affairs Officer--Craig White
Consular Officer--Jason Hackworth
Political-Economic-Commercial Officer--Quentin Barber
Regional Security Officer--Kevin Helm
The address of the U.S. Embassy in Mauritius is Rogers House, Fourth Floor, John F. Kennedy Street, Port Louis (tel: 230-202-4400; fax: 230-208-9534; E-mail: usembass@intnet.mu).
