India lost its foothold in Maldives the smallest country in Asia to Chinese overtures. But not losing its hold in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Indian Navy is building a naval airbase in the Lakshadweep Islands group. The Indian isles located in the Arabian Sea is just 507 km from Maldives and is seen as an alternative to Maldives.
The ramping up of facilities on the islands will mean soon the Indian frontline fighters will roar in the Western part of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The induction of the base will be in the first week of March 2024, the timeline for which is congruent with the withdrawal of troops from the island nation.
The new dispensation in the island country has severed its traditional close military and diplomatic relations with India and has leaned squarely with China. This was seen as China’s coup in India’s strategic space.
Maldives strategic importance doesn’t stem from its size, but with location. Its islands are dispersed atop a 960 km submarine ridge which runs from north to south and forms a wall in the middle of the Indian Ocean. In the IOR, there are two safe passages for ships to travel through and they are situated at southern and northern ends of this island group.
The maritime trade flow between the Strait of Malacca in Southeast Asia and the Gulf of Aden and Hormuz in Wet Asia, depends on SLOC (Sea Lanes of Communication). The Maldives act as a toll gate even though the IOR is regarded as the main route for international trade and energy flow.
India sprung into action and is set to commence a new base in Lakshadweep Islands next week. This based named INS Jatayu will play a crucial role in enhancing the presence of the Indian Navy. The INS Jatayu is based on Minicoy islands, one of the picturesque islands of thr Lakshadweep Islands.
INS Jatayu will be the counterpart of INS Baaz, the frontline naval airbase in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and will carry all classes of fighter jets and aircrafts. During the commissioning ceremony, a squadron of MH-60R helicopters will also be raised. It will enhance surveillance, search and rescue operations and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.
Minicoy Islands lies near the Nine Degree Channel which is one of the busiest shipping routes about 130 km from the northernmost island of Maldives. PM Narendra Modi visited this island in January 2023, which was followed by a social media war between the two countries, resulting in a diplomatic feud between the two nations.
The Mohamed Muizzu government in Maldives has asked India to withdraw its troops and even welcomed a Chinese research vessel that was refused the right to dock in Sri Lanka. The Indian public responded by boycotting the country for any kind of tourism. The base aims to bolster security in the IOR by contributing to maritime surveillance and defense.
Initially, the INS Jatayu will be commissioned with a small component of officers and men. However, it is planned to be expanded to allow fighter aircraft of the Indian Navy to operate from here. The commissioning ceremony of INS Jatayu will not be quiet affair. India is making sure that powers in the region take note of it as both of its aircraft carriers will be present during the ceremony, projecting the might of the Indian Navy.
The Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on board the INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant carrier forces along with 15 warships will travel to Minicoy Islands with top naval officers to inaugurate the new base on March 4-5, 2024. Plans are underway to construct a new airfield at Minicoy. This airfield will accommodate various military and commercial aircraft, potentially boosting tourism in the islands chain. Additionally, there are plans to extend the existing airfield on the nearby island of Agatti.
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