The Indian Navy has a new strategic perch in the Indian Ocean: the island of Agalega. The 25-sq km island is over 1000 km from the main island of Mauritius but it is Mauritian territory and India has built facilities there including a 3000-metre runaway and a jetty that stretches from the shore deep into the ocean, thereby enabling big ships to dock.
Agalega is a boost to the navy’s strategic sea legs, giving it the ability to maintain and sustain prolonged surveillance of the western Indian Ocean. This covers the Horn of Africa where pirates are active, and also Djibouti where China’s navy has a base.
From Agalega, the navy can operate a variety of platforms including the P8I maritime surveillance aircraft, drones, helicopters and of course surface ships.
The naval facilities are limited to the north and east of the island, and the needs of the small population of about 300 has also been taken care of: India has built six community projects including a library and a fisheries project.
