Victoria, June 28 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday reaffirmed that the defence and security of India and Seychelles are "inextricably linked," and that India remains a "trusted partner" in the security and sovereignty of the island country.

In his address to the National Assembly of Seychelles, Prime Minister Modi placed maritime defence and strategic cooperation at the heart of the bilateral relationship noting that while the last fifty years have seen many global shifts, the commitment between the defence forces of India and Seychelles remains "unchanged."

"The passage of 50 years has changed many things. But it has not changed our commitment to one another. For decades, our defence forces, coast guards, and maritime agencies...