HMS Lancaster has reinforced the UK’s security ties with the Seychelles during her second visit to the islands in four months, focusing on enhancing maritime security in the southern Indian Ocean.
The visit included a range of activities aimed at bolstering local forces and improving cooperation between the UK and Seychelles, according to a Royal Navy announcement.
A key part of the visit involved a three-day combined jungle training exercise between HMS Lancaster’s Royal Marines detachment and the Seychelles Special Forces.
The training, conducted in the challenging terrain of Cap Ternay on Mahé island, covered various skills including jungle patrols, observation drills, and close-quarters battle. Captain Ali Rogers RM, who leads Lancaster’s Royal Marines boarding team, expressed hope for continued collaboration, stating, “This was the first time in a few years that the Royal Marines have conducted training alongside the Seychelles Defence Force, and we hope it continues.”
The visit also included community engagement, with the crew carrying out minor repairs and maintenance at the Plaisance Home, which supports elderly homeless residents, and participating in a beach clean-up at North East Point.
The sailors collaborated with environmental campaigners ‘Parley for the Oceans,’ promoting sustainable practices.
During the visit, British High Commissioner Jeffrey Glekin announced an additional £2.4 million in UK support to help the Seychelles develop a maritime security strategy. He mentioned the UK’s commitment to aiding Seychelles in maintaining the security and sovereignty of its waters, saying, “The UK wants nothing more than to help Seychelles protect her sovereignty and defend her freedom.”
Tough job, but someone has to do it!😎
Nice work! Could have still been a British territory if we’d actually cared about working with and supporting the locals back in the day.
Would we actually want it, I doubt it would add much if anything to the economy, as most of the businesses there are there for tax reasons and so I can’t imagine the overal country has a booming economy.
Not saying we’d be interested from an economic point of view.
However if we are looking to keep Chinese influence out and promote cooperation with The West then The Seychelles was one of the few former colonies that featured a substantial pro UK faction prior to independance.
To be honest I think the uk missed a trick with its overseas territories and former territory’s what we should have done is invested in them and made them desirable as holiday destinations much like the USA did with Hawaii instead we do the bear minimum and send all our tourists to Spain
Spain – and Portugal – are closer so cheaper for flights.
I hope they got a good run ashore & amount of shore leave. The RN should be selling/making more of these opportunities as part recruitment and retention.
Quite.
I take it that is an old stock photo with Harpoon on her?
She has Harpoon fitted
Interesting that they are still deploying with Harpoon.
All gone very quiet on the NSM front.
It says 2023.
@GB above says she has Harpoon fitted?
Join the navy see the world
Excellent run ashore. Went once on a ship and once on an all expenses paid holiday.
The one on a ship we had 7 days in Mahe , sailed, few days at sea and then 2 weeks in Mombasa. It was a hard life!
It can be expensive but that’s to be expected as most hotels are all top marque 4/5 star.
Hotel runs to use their facilities are the norm but if you do go there then get a hire car, drive around and visit the secluded beaches with little bars and sea food restaurants on them.