A recent BBC report shines a light on India’s expanding footprint in the Indian Ocean, focusing on the small island of Agalega, part of the Mauritius archipelago. Located approximately 1,100km (680 miles) north of Mauritius, Agalega was once an isolated community of 350 individuals sustained by fishing and coconut farming. Now, the island is rapidly transforming into a strategic hub, raising questions about India’s military ambitions and their implications for regional security.
NASA, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
At the heart of this transformation are two key infrastructure projects undertaken by India: a substantial 3,000m runway and a large, newly constructed jetty. These facilities significantly enhance India’s ability to project power in the region. The runway is capable of accommodating the Indian Navy’s P-8I aircraft, a modified Boeing 737 designed for anti-submarine warfare and maritime surveillance. Islanders have already photographed these aircraft operating from the new airstrip. The expansive jetty is capable of hosting Indian surface patrol vessels and potentially facilitating the deployment of a coastal radar surveillance system, as noted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
Samuel Bashfield, a PhD scholar at the Australian National University, highlights the strategic significance of these developments. Satellite imagery analysis reveals the dramatic changes on Agalega. Where once palm trees dominated the landscape, now a vast runway stretches along the northern island, flanked by large hangars, one of which could potentially house the P-8I. The scale of the infrastructure points to a substantial Indian investment and a long-term commitment to the island.
India’s focus on Agalega is driven by the evolving geopolitical dynamics of the Indian Ocean. As China’s influence grows in the region, India is actively seeking to counterbalance it, establishing strategic partnerships and bolstering its maritime capabilities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized the “natural partnership” between India and Mauritius in addressing maritime security challenges. Their defense relationship, dating back to the 1970s, has significantly deepened, with several key positions in Mauritius’ security apparatus held by Indian nationals.
While India’s ambitions are clear, the development on Agalega has sparked anxiety amongst some islanders. Areas of the island, including pristine beaches, are now off-limits. Rumors circulate that the village of La Fourche, home to ten families, will be absorbed into the expanding Indian infrastructure, leading to displacement. Laval Soopramanien, president of the Association of Friends of Agalega, fears the island is heading towards the fate of the Chagos Islands, another island group in the Indian Ocean. The UK government evicted the Chagossian population in the 1960s to make way for a US military base on Diego Garcia. The plight of the Chagossians resonates deeply with Agalegans, particularly those whose families were expelled from the islands.
Adding to the islanders’ unease is the lack of transparency surrounding the 2015 memorandum of understanding between India and Mauritius, the agreement underpinning the development on Agalega. The details remain unpublished, fueling suspicion and distrust among the local population.
The Mauritian government maintains that Agalega does not host a military base and that the national police remain in control. They acknowledge India’s role in the “maintenance and operation” of the facilities, built at India’s expense. The government asserts that the improvements to transportation infrastructure will benefit islanders and boost the local economy. They also cite piracy control, drug trafficking, and unregulated fishing as justifications for the development.
However, islanders dispute the government’s claims of economic benefits. Ferry services to Mauritius remain limited, and passenger flights are non-existent. Healthcare access has also become a point of contention. A newly constructed hospital, equipped with modern facilities, is allegedly off-limits to the local population. Billy Henri, a resident of Agalega, recounts the case of a young boy who suffered severe burns and was denied entry to the hospital, forced instead to be flown to Mauritius for treatment.
While the Mauritian Prime Minister, Pravind Jugnauth, has outlined plans for socio-economic development on Agalega, including healthcare, education, and fishing sector improvements, the lack of transparency and the perceived disparity between government promises and the reality on the ground continue to fuel skepticism.
For more information, hit the Source below