India goes to take a significant step in increasing its maritime footprint deep into the Indian Ocean when at 1 o’clock at the moment Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth launch the much-awaited Agalega airstrip and a jetty which might dock a warship. The Agalega airstrip, in addition to the jetty, won’t solely present maritime area consciousness to each Mauritius and India but additionally permit operational turnaround for Indian Navy warships whereas on missions of the Eastern Seaboard of Africa in addition to the South West Indian Ocean. The airstrip can land a Boeing P-8I multimission plane and the jetty can dock both a destroyer or a frigate of the Indian Navy.

The airstrip is 3 km lengthy and might even deal with heavy-lift C-17, medium-lift IL-76 and C-130 Hercules, and Boeing P-8I surveillance and anti-submarine warfare.

It is known that as many as 50 officers and personnel of the Indian Navy are already stationed at this strategic island with each international locations having plans to additional increase the manpower energy on the Agalega islands.

India’s efforts to strengthen its maritime capabilities lengthen past Agalega. With the institution of a maritime help base in Duqm port, Oman, and plans to arrange an air help facility in north Agalega Islands, India goals to boost maritime area consciousness and coastal safety for pleasant nations within the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), significantly in gentle of China’s increasing presence within the space.

Although official particulars about these developments stay undisclosed, insiders recommend that the Duqm port facility is already operational, providing upkeep, restore, and overhaul providers for Indian ships. Similarly, the airstrip in north Agalega islands is about to be operationalized quickly, offering very important help to Mauritius’ maritime safety efforts, together with safeguarding its tourism property.

The choice to determine help services in Oman and Mauritius comes amid heightened Chinese naval actions within the Indian Ocean. With the Chinese Navy’s Carrier Strike Forces anticipated to patrol the IOR by 2025-26, there may be rising concern amongst nationwide safety planners relating to China’s increasing naval presence.

Data from South Block reveals a gradual enhance within the variety of Chinese vessels within the IOR, with surveillance, analysis, and ballistic missile monitoring ships commonly coming into the area. This consists of current deployments of PLA Navy ships, satellite tv for pc monitoring vessels, and scientific analysis ships, highlighting China’s sustained curiosity within the Indian Ocean.