SOURCE: AFI
In a bold move to assert its dominance in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), India has established a pivotal military base on the remote Agalega Island, part of Mauritius, located near one of the world’s busiest maritime waterways—the Mozambique Channel. Inaugurated in February 2024, this base, equipped with a 3,000-meter airstrip and a deep-water jetty, is designed to host large military aircraft like the Boeing P-8I Poseidon and naval warships, transforming Agalega into a launchpad for operations across the farthest reaches of the Indian Ocean.
This strategic outpost, often overlooked due to its isolation, holds immense geopolitical significance as India counters China’s expanding influence through its “String of Pearls” strategy with its own “Necklace of Diamonds” approach. As U.S. Navy Admiral Alfred Thayer Mahan prophesized over a century ago, “Whoever controls the Indian Ocean will dominate Asia. The destiny of the world will be decided on its waters.” Today, this prophecy resonates more than ever.
Stretching from the western shores of Africa to Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean has been a vital artery of global trade and culture since the 3rd century BCE, connecting Southeast Asia, India, Arabia, and East Africa. Today, it facilitates over 80% of the world’s maritime oil shipments through critical chokepoints like the Straits of Malacca, Hormuz, and Bab-el-Mandeb. The region is also rich in untapped natural resources, including nickel, cobalt, iron, copper, gold, and titanium, contributing significantly to global production: 35% of iron, 18% of gold, 17.7% of proven oil reserves, and 28% of natural gas reserves as of 2017. These economic stakes, combined with the ocean’s strategic trade routes, have made it a theater of great power competition for centuries, from colonial rivalries to Cold War tensions.
Historically, India, with its peninsular geography and deep historical ties to the region, has been the predominant maritime power within its immediate sphere. However, the rise of China as a global economic and military actor over the past two decades has shifted the balance. Through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the “String of Pearls” strategy, China has established a network of military and commercial outposts, including ports in Gwadar (Pakistan), Hambantota (Sri Lanka), Djibouti, Mombasa (Kenya), and Dar es Salaam (Tanzania). These “pearls” encircle India, securing Beijing’s trade routes and extending its influence into India’s backyard, particularly in the southwest Indian Ocean near the Mozambique Channel—a critical trade artery vulnerable to piracy and illicit activities.
Recognizing the growing importance of the southwest Indian Ocean, India has strategically positioned Agalega Island as a cornerstone of its regional ambitions. Located 1,122 km north of Mauritius, Agalega’s remote yet prime location near the Mozambique Channel makes it an ideal hub for maritime surveillance and power projection. In 2015, India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Mauritius to develop infrastructure on the island, including a jetty, runway extension, and logistics facilities, funded by an $87 million Indian investment. Satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies reveals that construction began in 2019, with significant progress by 2021, culminating in the inauguration of a 3,000-meter airstrip and a deep-water jetty in 2024.
The airstrip is capable of accommodating India’s fleet of Boeing P-8I Poseidon aircraft, advanced maritime patrol planes equipped with cutting-edge radar, sonar, and long-range missiles for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The jetty can host naval vessels, enabling refueling, resupply, and monitoring of maritime activity. These facilities transform Agalega into a critical intelligence-gathering hub and operational launchpad, allowing India to monitor vital trade routes, track submarines, and counter potential threats across the western Indian Ocean. On January 23, 2025, the Indian Navy completed a hydrographic survey covering over 25,000 square nautical miles of Mauritian waters, providing nautical charts to enhance Mauritius’ maritime infrastructure—a testament to the deepening India-Mauritius partnership.
Agalega is a key component of India’s “Necklace of Diamonds” strategy, a counter to China’s “String of Pearls.” First articulated by former Indian Foreign Secretary Lalit Mansingh in 2011, this strategy involves developing strategic outposts and alliances to encircle China and secure India’s maritime interests. Key elements include:
- Duqm Port, Oman: Secured in 2018, this port facilitates India’s crude imports and provides a strategic foothold between China’s pearls in Djibouti and Gwadar.
- Chabahar Port, Iran: Developed since 2016, it offers access to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.
- Sabang Port, Indonesia: Near the Strait of Malacca, it chokes China’s trade routes.
- Changi Naval Base, Singapore: A 2018 agreement grants India naval access, enhancing its presence in Southeast Asia.
- Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands: Upgraded naval bases like INS Jatayu (commissioned in 2024) and Kohassa air station bolster India’s surveillance capabilities.
- Coastal Surveillance Radars: Installed in Mauritius (8), Seychelles (1), Sri Lanka (6), Maldives, and Bangladesh, these radars, implemented by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), relay real-time data on maritime activity, countering piracy and smuggling.
Agalega complements these efforts by extending India’s reach into the southwest Indian Ocean, a region where China has gained footholds in Mombasa and Dar es Salaam. The base enhances India’s maritime domain awareness, supports joint patrols with allies like France (from Réunion) and the U.S. (from Diego Garcia), and strengthens ties with African nations, positioning Mauritius as India’s “gateway to Africa.”
Agalega’s strategic location near the Mozambique Channel—a vital trade route for oil tankers and commercial ships—makes it indispensable for securing global commerce. Its proximity to Seychelles, Madagascar, and the U.S.-UK base at Diego Garcia creates a network of allied outposts to counter China’s growing presence. The base also enhances the Mauritian Defense Forces’ capabilities, safeguarding outer islands and reinforcing regional stability. India’s close ties with Mauritius, bolstered by a significant Indian diaspora and shared Hindu cultural heritage, make it a natural partner. Often dubbed the “Little India” of the southwest Indian Ocean, Mauritius benefits from Indian-funded infrastructure and security cooperation, including Indian officials in key Mauritian security roles.
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