Earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius jointly inaugurated an airstrip and a jetty that India has built on Agaléga, a set of two islands in the western Indian Ocean, along with some other community development initiatives. The Mauritian dependency of Agaléga comprises two islands — the main North Island, and the smaller South Island, located 1,100 km north of Port Louis, the capital of Mauritius, and 2,500 km southwest of Malé, the capital of Maldives. Over the last few years, there have been reports about purported Indian efforts to develop Agaléga as a military base in the Indian Ocean. Prime Minister Jugnauth has denied these claims forcefully, and deplored the “India-bashing campaign” by “some ill-minded persons” in this regard. India has said that Mauritius is a key partner of its ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’ and a special partner under Vision SAGAR, and that the two countries have a vibrant, strong, and unique partnership. What strategic significance does the Agaléga airstrip have for India? The upgraded airstrip and jetty are key strategic projects that can help to expand India’s reach in the Indian Ocean and enhance its coverage of the waters off the east coast of Africa, as it looks to counter the growing Chinese influence in the region, including in the Maldives. The existing airstrip on North Agaléga Island was suitable for the Indian Navy’s Dornier aircraft operations, but the upgraded airstrip will allow the Navy to also operate the larger P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Basing aircraft on the island will require the construction of additional infrastructure, which comes with a full-fledged naval base. Operating from Agaléga, the Indian Navy’s long-range aircraft will be able to keep an eye on the western and southern Indian Ocean, and on the eastern and southern coast of Africa, significantly improving India’s maritime domain awareness in the region, and its ability to carry out a range of maritime operations. Following the tensions in the Red Sea region, many commercial vessels on east-west voyages have been rerouting to the Cape of Good Hope, leading to increased transits and shipping traffic in the region. While Jugnauth has rejected reports about the possible development of an Indian military base at Agaléga, the concept of countries maintaining a military presence in the region is not new. The United States Navy has a key base at Diego Garcia, the largest island in the 58-island Chagos archipelago, located just south of the Equator in the central Indian Ocean. And in 2017, China opened its first overseas naval base in the east African country Djibouti, placing itself strategically at the mouth of the Gulf of Aden. What military ties does India have with Mauritius at present? India and Mauritius have cooperated closely on maritime security and other aspects. Indian defence officers are deputed to the Mauritian Defence Forces. A MEA document mentions that an Indian Navy officer heads the Mauritian National Coast Guard, an Indian Air Force officer commands the Police Helicopter Squadron, and an Indian Naval Officer heads the Mauritius Hydrography Services. About 20 officers from the Indian Defence Forces are on deputation to the country. India has supplied six of the seven helicopters in service in Mauritius, besides five ships, three aircraft, and 10 Fast Interceptor boats, and has helped set up a Coastal Surveillance Radar System. In February 2021, India extended a $100 million line of credit to Mauritius for procuring defence products. What overall military presence does India have in this part of the Indian Ocean? The Indian Navy will commission Naval Detachment Minicoy as INS Jatayu at Lakshadweep’s Minicoy Island this month. This independent Naval unit will enhance the overall operational capability of the Indian Navy on the islands. INS Jatayu will be the second Naval base in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti. Besides Mauritius, India has been working in recent years to enhance its diplomatic and military ties with the Seychelles and African nations including Madagascar. India has also had military ties with the Maldives for several decades, but the relationship has been impacted by changes in the political dispensation in the islands. The present government of President Mohamed Muizzu, which rode to power on an “India Out” plank last year, has a clear pro-China tilt.
