Vice Admiral Biswajit Dasgupta (Retd) highlights the Andaman and Nicobar Islands' critical significance in India's maritime strategy in a recent opinion piece, advocating for the islands to be turned into Hawaii of India.
The Indian armed forces' current theaterization strategy offers a unique opportunity to maximise the islands' offensive capabilities. This entails the creation of new infrastructure, the distribution of suitable resources, and an evaluation of the Andaman and Nicobar Command's (ANC) organisational structure.
The ANC is positioned to be a key player in the proposed marine Theatre Command, taking the fight to possible enemies and blocking any hostile marine incursions from the east.
Located 1,296 kilometres (1,700 nautical miles) southeast of the Indian peninsula, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are strategically located towards the Malacca Strait. The mouth of the Malacca Strait, a vital waterway that connects the Indian and Pacific oceans, is only 365 nautical miles (675 km) away from Indira Point, the southernmost point of the island group.
Because of their physical location, the islands play an important role in regional trade and oceanic transportation, making them vulnerable to maritime threats during conflict scenarios.
Vice Admiral Dasgupta, taking into account possible threats, presents a scenario in which China builds up its maritime forces through the eastern Indo-Pacific choke points, which include the straits of Malacca, Sunda, Lombok, and Ombai-Wetar.
A strategic reevaluation and strengthening of the ANC's capabilities are necessary to properly confront such threats.
In order to turn the Andaman and Nicobar Islands into a strategic centre, offensive measures must be combined with increased defensiveness. This entails deploying resources, reviewing command structures, and formulating a thorough plan to ward off and resist possible enemies.
In light of India's efforts to enhance its maritime influence and confront emergent geopolitical issues, the geographical advantage of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands positions them to serve as a critical component of the country's strategic framework.
To achieve this objective, infrastructure investment, coordinated efforts, and a proactive stance towards safeguarding India's interests in the crucial Indo-Pacific region are necessary.
