Agalega : India's military infrastructure.

Satellite imagery dated 20 Apr 2022 shows hangars large enough to house the Indian Navy's P-81 submarine-hunting aircraft are under construction next to the newly-built runway.

India is building military infrastructure on Mauritius' Agalega Island to increase its presence in the western Indian Ocean.

Over the last few years, a 10,000-foot runway and a jetty have been constructed on the island, which is located over 1,100 km north of the main island of Mauritius.

The hangars "measure 180 feet long and 200 feet wide - big enough to house large military aircraft such as India's P-83 Poseidon, which measures 39.5 m in length and has a wind span of 37.6 m.

China has been rapidly expanding its presence in the western Indian Ocean. Apart from building its first foreign military base in Djibouti, it has invested heavily in infrastructure in Africa, particularly ports. Many of these ports are located on the eastern coast of Africa and could be the Chinese outposts.

India in Western Indian Ocean

India's maritime security strategy lists the south-west Indian Ocean, including the Mozambique Channel (used by shipping transiting the Cape of Good Hope) and the east coast of Africa, where China has been investing heavily, as one of the primary areas of interest.

The infrastructure coming up on Agalega will support India's maritime assets in the western Indian Ocean, particularly waters close to the western coast of Africa, an increasingly important region where the Indian Navy's engagements have been relatively limited.

- Courtesy. Adapted from an article from Swarajya

My take

Any country nurturing superpower ambitions will have to develop bases in areas of its interest to support its maritime/defence assets.

Tailpiece.

Got up around 6, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10. The sky was overcast through out the day but it didn't rain much.

Finally, our landline has been revived after a break for almost three weeks. Pravin of the BSNL and Bijeesh, the electrician got the system working. Phew!

Limbering up for tomorrow's journey in connection with the meetings of the co-ordinators and the volunteers of the PN Panicker Foundation of Kozhikode and Wayanad districts. Will return by Sunday evening. Our vehicle, from Thiruvananthapuram, will pick me up at Chavakkad junction because of the ongoing road repair work.

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