By Enyichukwu Enemanna
27 years after it was shutdown, the United States has reopened its embassy in the Seychelles in order to counter the influence of China and other US rivals who have made significant inroads in the Indian Ocean islands.
The US State Department had announced this on Thursday, after it unveiled plans to open a diplomatic mission in northern Norway, which will be its only such facility above the Arctic Circle.
The US is already constructing an embassy in the Maldives and has announced plans to open embassies in the Pacific, including in the Solomon Islands, Tonga and Kiribati to expand its influence.
The US Embassy in the Seychelles capital of Victoria was closed down in 1996 as part of cost-saving measures after the end of the Cold War.
American interests in the 115-island archipelago about 1,500 kilometers (800 miles) east of mainland Africa had been handled by diplomats based in Mauritius.
“The time is right to elevate the relationship so that together we can better address shared challenges and take advantage of mutually beneficial opportunities,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
He said that the US would focus its efforts there on economic development, climate change, maritime security and combating transnational crime and corruption.
“Our joint pursuit of peace, democracy, and prosperity will be a beacon across Africa and the Indian Ocean region,” Blinken said.
