‘Arc Of Power’ Series
In the ‘Arc Of Power’ series, Episode IV, we continue documenting the Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC). We’re now headed south — across the Ten Degree Channel — to Tarasa, a Nicobar Island. There is another complex tri-service amphibious exercise scheduled there. It’s a distance of more than 300 nautical miles or 560 kilometres. And our home away from home is the INS Saryu. The ANC is a joint operational command of the Indian Navy, Army, Air Force and Coast Guard. So what is the connection between the ANC’s Tarasa Island and Indian actors Tiger Shroff and Tamannaah Bhatia? Watch Episode IV to find out!
Series In 4K
Watch this series in 4K. Click the gear icon in YouTube’s settings and choose 2160p/4K, if your device is compatible. We recommend big screen viewing for the best experience.
The China Threat
Why such a unified ANC defence? Because just beyond the horizon, China’s increasing maritime presence casts a long shadow. From its mushrooming fleet to its strategic port developments, Beijing’s ambitions in the Indian Ocean directly impact India’s security as well as regional stability.
Tarasa Island
Tarasa, a Nicobar group island, holds significant strategic importance for the Tri-service ANC. This island, like others in the archipelago, serves as a vital outpost for India’s maritime presence in the Bay of Bengal and the broader Indo-Pacific. Its location places it far closer to various South and Southeast Asian nations than to the Indian mainland. In this series, we began sailing from Sri Vijaya Puram (SVP), the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, known as Port Blair till September 2024. We traveled to Rutland Island in Episode I. Then up to Aerial Bay, Diglipur and INS Kohassa near Myanmar’s Coco Islands-in Episode II.
ANC: India’s Critical Outpost
SVP is 381 km from Tarasa. From the island, the distance to Chennai and Visakhapatnam is approximately 1,500 km, and Kolkata is around 1,650 km. In contrast, the Andaman and Nicobar islands’ proximity to neighbouring countries highlights its geopolitical value. Myanmar’s Coco Islands is merely 22 nautical miles (approximately 40 km) from the northernmost Andaman island-Landfall. Indonesia’s Sabang port in Sumatra is approximately 180 km from the southernmost point of Great Nicobar (Indira Point), which is relatively close to Tarasa Island. Phuket in Thailand is about 570 km to the east. The gateway to the Malacca Strait, a global shipping choke point, is just 160 kilometres or 88 nautical miles from Campbell Bay on the Greater Nicobar Island. This strategic positioning enables the ANC to effectively monitor maritime traffic, counter piracy, conduct search and rescue operations, and project power across this crucial maritime domain.
Andaman & Nicobar Command: Strategic Springboard
In episode IV, we film a tri-service amphibious assault operation involving the Navy’s Marine Commandos (MARCOS) and the Army’s special force parachutists, Naval warships, amphibious vessels, the Air Force’s C-130s, Mi-17s as well as Coast Guard Dorniers. These islands are not just remote outposts; they are India’s vigilant eyes and ears, guarding critical maritime highways that connect the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. This is India’s springboard to project its maritime power securing the country’s future in the blue expanse.
StratNews Global Team
SNG’s team of Amitabh P. Revi, Rohit Pandita and Vashisht Mattoo travels through the Andaman and Nicobar Command to bring you this series. Deepankar Verma provides all the motion graphics that explain the strategic significance of the ANC.
