India to build naval bases in Agatti and Minicoy Islands

Modi government has decided to build new airstrip at Minicoy Islands and upgrade the air strip at Agatti islands

February 14, 2024

Lakshadweep’s Minicoy & Agatti to get new naval bases

India will soon extend its naval footprint by establishing naval bases in Agatti and Minicoy Islands along with air bases in order to secure the vital sea lanes of communication.

Modi government has decided to build a new airstrip at Minicoy Islands and upgrade the airstrip at Agatti Islands with plans to station naval assets at INS Jatayu.

This decision dovetails into the Modi government’s strategy to use its island’s territories to project power in the Indo-Pacific in support of the maritime security of the region.

India will soon make a major maritime security statement after INS Vikramaditya and INS Vikrant carrier task forces which includes nearly 15 warships will travel to Minicoy Islands with naval brass to inaugurate a naval base INS Jatayu on March 4-5.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to be on board.

The Indian Navy plans to hold the first phase of the Combined Commanders Conference on board Indian aircraft carriers with the two armadas travelling from Goa to Karwar to Minicoy Islands to Kochi.

The second phase of the commander’s conference will be held on March 6-7.

While India is already developing its force capability in Andamans and Nicobar Islands with new facilities at Campbell Bay in Great Nicobar, the move to upgrade the Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands will not only protect commercial shipping but also lead to infrastructure upgrades and tourism in the island territories.

The Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands sit on the nine-degree channel through which billions of dollars’ worth of commercial trade passes through, while en route to South-East Asia and North Asia. Minicoy Islands is a mere 524 kilometers from Maldives.

The geographical location of Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands and the Andamans and Nicobar Islands is such that India can safeguard the maritime trade routes while countering the challenge of the rapidly expanding Chinese Navy and their supplicants in the Indian Ocean.

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