In the realm of India’s naval strategy, three ‘M’s—Mauritius, Maldives and the country’s very own Minicoy islands—have suddenly assumed an importance much disproportionately higher to their small geographical sizes.
The strategic importance is primarily due to the fact that these three geographies are situated in very strategic locations in the Indian Ocean which is increasingly being seen as the battle-zone where the global powers will wage their diplomatic and military tussles in the eternal bid to enhance spheres of influence and acquire dominance.
These locations would serve as vantage positions to extend and project military power and strategic depth besides being of immense value as transit and facilitation points not only for India’s military platforms but for the platforms of ‘friendly powers’ too.
So on Thursday when PM Narendra Modi and Mauritian PM Pravind Jugnauth together inaugurated a military airstrip necked by a jetty on the island of Agalega in Mauritius, it was pregnant with possibilities.
While heavy airlifters and transporters like the Indian Air Force’s C-17 Globemasters and C-130 ‘Super Hercules’, not to speak of fighter aircraft, would be able to easily land on the airstrip, the Indian Navy’s warships and submarines would easily be able to dock on the jetty.
But more importantly, the airbase could be a base for the operations of the Indian Navy’s submarine-hunting Poseidon 8I aircraft that could keep an eye on Chinese navy submarines that are known to increasingly prowl in the waters.
The move to construct the Agalega military facility began in 2015 with the signing of a MoU with Mauritius with the stated aim of enhancing Mauritius’ maritime security.
Agalega is about 1,100 km north of Mauritian Port Louis and 2,500 km southwest of Madivian capital Male.
But Male is where Indian influence has run into rough weather.
If Agalega could further Indian strategic and military interests, Male can erode it with pro-China President Mohamed Muizzu at the helm after he strode to power about three months ago.
Among President Muizzu’s first decisions was to ask the about 80-strong Indian military contingent stationed in the island nation to go back home to India, leading to discord with New Delhi.
It was later agreed that the military contingent will be replaced by civilian officials to operate the two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft that India had gifted Male.
But what will adequately buttress Indian military outreach and depth in the region is the decision to commission an Indian navy base INS Jatayu in the Minicoy Islands of Lakshadweep.
Minicoy is located on the south of Lakshadweep and just about 130 km away from the northern limits of the Maldives islands and sits close to one of the busiest shipping routes.
Besides naval assets, the base will station MH 60R helicopters that have substantial surveillance and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities.