How Mauritius Should Navigate a Fractured World Order

The world is shifting in ways that make foreign policy more consequential than ever for small island states like Mauritius. Writing in the Mauritius Times, former African Union diplomat Vijay Makhan argues that while small nations cannot shape global events, they can and must define their interests clearly, anticipate change, and use diplomacy to expand their options.

The argument comes at a moment when the international order is under serious stress. Great-power rivalry between the United States, China and Russia has returned with force, and competition now stretches well beyond military affairs into trade, technology, finance and information. For a country like Mauritius, which depends heavily on international trade, foreign investment, tourism and multilateral institutions, the stakes of getting foreign policy right are unusually high.

Makhan's core point is that small states are not helpless. They can be purposeful. The key is to be clear about national interests and to use every diplomatic tool available, from bilateral relationships and regional bodies to multilateral forums and international law, to protect and advance those interests.

Mauritius sits at a strategic crossroads in the Indian Ocean, a region that has become central to global competition. The island's relationships with India, China, France, the United Kingdom, the United States and African nations each carry weight, and managing those relationships simultaneously, without being drawn into one camp at the expense of others, is an increasingly delicate task.

The country has in recent years dealt with several situations that test exactly this kind of diplomatic skill. The resolution of the Chagos Islands sovereignty question, negotiations over the future of the Agalega island development project involving India, and Mauritius's standing in African regional bodies such as the African Union and the Southern African Development Community all require a steady hand and a coherent long-term vision.

What this means for Mauritius is that foreign policy is not simply a matter for government ministers. It affects every sector of the economy. Trade agreements shape the cost of imports and the market for exports. Investment treaties determine how foreign capital enters the country. Relationships with major powers influence whether Mauritius retains its reputation as a stable, well-governed financial and business hub. Even tourism is shaped by the diplomatic climate and by how the country is perceived internationally.

Makhan's essay is a call for seriousness. In a world where global rules are being contested and old certainties are fading, Mauritius cannot afford to drift. It needs a foreign policy that is grounded in principle, guided by a realistic assessment of its interests, and carried out with consistent, professional diplomacy.

The piece does not offer a detailed policy programme, but its underlying message is clear: small states that know who they are, what they stand for, and where they want to go are far better placed to weather global turbulence than those that react to events without a clear framework.

Source: Mauritius Times