A substantial portion of global trade, amounting to over a trillion dollars, navigates through India’s island territories en route to Southeast Asia and North Asia. Recognizing the strategic importance of this region, the Narendra Modi government is poised to enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
The government has approved significant extensions to the runways at Diglipur in the North Andaman Islands and Campbell Bay in the Great Nicobar Islands. These extensions will soon facilitate night landings at Port Blair Airport. The runway at INS Baaz in Campbell Bay will be extended by an additional 4,000 feet to accommodate large jets and fighters, while the runway at INS Kohassa in Diglipur will also be expanded to support big jets. Both runways could serve as forward-deployed airbases during emergencies.
Moreover, the Indian military plans to demonstrate night landing capabilities by landing an Airbus 321 at Veer Savarkar Airport in Port Blair, which already supports night landings. This demonstration will pave the way for commercial jets to operate at night, showcasing India’s advanced aviation capabilities.
“The Modi government is serious about extending its sea legs in IOR,” as evidenced by the deployment of six new radars in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and additional radars in the Lakshadweep Islands. These installations will enhance maritime and air domain awareness, providing a significant strategic advantage.
The expansion of the runway at Campbell Bay is part of a broader proposal to establish a transshipment hub at Galathea Bay in Great Nicobar. This location is just 150 kilometers from Banda Aceh in Indonesia, highlighting its strategic significance. Additionally, the Minicoy Islands, located only 300 kilometers from the Maldives, will further strengthen India’s position in the region, especially as the Maldives seek increased loans from China.
Given that both the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands lie along key sea lanes of communication originating from the Suez Canal and the Persian Gulf, these developments are crucial. If these proposals come to fruition, India will gain significant leverage over all ingress routes to the South China Sea via the Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok straits. Furthermore, India will have early warning capabilities against potential PLA Navy aggression in the IOR and the Pacific.
In conclusion, the Narendra Modi government’s strategic initiatives in the Indian Ocean Region are set to bolster India’s maritime security and enhance its geopolitical influence. By expanding and upgrading its infrastructure in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the Lakshadweep Islands, India is positioning itself as a dominant force in the region.
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