The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are undergoing significant military infrastructure upgrades, as reported by official sources. These enhancements include improvements to airfields, jetties, logistic and storage facilities, habitats for troops, and surveillance infrastructure. This development is partly in response to China's growing influence in the region, exemplified by the construction of a military facility on Myanmar's Coco Islands, located near the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
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The upgrades are aimed at bolstering military capabilities in the region, including extending airstrips for larger aircraft like P8Is and fighter jets, expanding jetties for bigger warships, and constructing permanent housing for troops. Enhancements also include modernizing an Air Force station to accommodate fighter squadrons, extending a runway, building a container transhipment terminal, and installing advanced radar and underwater defense systems. These improvements support India's strategic objectives to strengthen its military presence in a key maritime area.
ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS:
Geographical Location: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are an Indian archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, consisting of 572 islands. They are split into the Andaman group to the north and the Nicobar group to the south by the 10-degree channel, with Indira Point marking the southernmost tip.
Geological Formation: Formed by the collision of the Indian Plate and the Burma Minor Plate, these islands are part of a submerged mountain range connected to Burma's Arakan Yoma. The region includes India's only active volcano on Barren Island.
Climate: The climate is tropical, influenced by marine conditions, with temperatures ranging from 18° to 35°C. The islands receive heavy rainfall from monsoons and frequent cyclonic winds.
Flora and Fauna: Forests cover 81.73% of the area, featuring diverse ecosystems from mangroves to evergreen forests. The islands are rich in unique wildlife, including the Giant Robber Crab and the Dugong, and have 9 national parks.
Human Inhabitation: Inhabited since the Middle Paleolithic era, the indigenous tribes include the hunter-gatherer communities of the Great Andamanese, Onge, Jarawa, and Sentinelese. The administrative capital is Port Blair.
Cultural and Historical Significance: Historically used by the Chola dynasty and colonized by the Danes and British, the islands have significant sites like the Cellular Jail. They hold strategic importance and are governed as a Union Territory of India.
The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is the first and only tri-service command in India and was established in 2001.
WHY THE ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR ISLANDS ARE OF CRITICAL IMPORTANCE TO INDIA
Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier: Often described as the ‘unsinkable aircraft carrier,’ the islands strengthen India’s ability to extend its maritime boundaries eastward, bolstering regional maritime presence and security.
Control over Strategic Chokepoints: Located near essential maritime chokepoints like the Malacca Strait and the Six Degree Channel, the islands play a crucial role in controlling access to these key routes, which are vital for global maritime trade.
Foundation of India’s Maritime Strategy: Central to India’s "Security and Growth for All in the Region" (SAGAR), the islands support strategies to enhance sea denial and control, vital for countering strategic challenges like China’s String of Pearls. The strategic positioning of the islands acts like a “metal chain” strung right down the Bay of Bengal to the mouth of the Malacca, enhancing their strategic significance.
Counter to Regional Threats: Proximity to strategic projects like the proposed Kra Canal, which would link the Andaman Sea with the Gulf of Thailand, positions the islands as a counterbalance to increasing regional threats, particularly from China, enhancing India’s strategic leverage.
Indo-Pacific Security Hub: The strategic location of the islands establishes India as a primary security provider in the Indo-Pacific, fostering regional stability and security dynamics. This role as a 'net security provider' emphasizes India's pivotal position in maintaining peace and security across the region.
Economic Development Opportunities: Accounting for 30% of India’s Exclusive Economic Zone, the islands are ripe with economic opportunities in tourism, fisheries, and the extraction of undersea resources, including minerals, oil, and gas, driving potential growth and investment in these sectors.
Regional Cooperation: The proximity of the islands to Southeast Asia facilitates deeper ties with ASEAN countries, promoting India's role as a regional security provider and partner in economic development.
Renewable Energy Prospects: Favourable geographic and environmental conditions support the development of renewable energy sources like tidal and wind energy, aligning with sustainable development goals.
Tourism Development Zone: The pristine beaches and natural beauty of the islands attract international tourists and foreign investment in the hospitality sector, promoting the islands as a top global tourism destination.
Cultural Anthropological Asset: Home to five Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups—Great Andamanese, Jarawas, Onges, Shompens, and North Sentinelese—the islands are invaluable for the preservation of unique cultural heritages and anthropological research.
Base for Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Operations: The strategic position of the islands makes them an ideal staging area for disaster relief, medical aid, anti-piracy measures, and search and rescue missions, enhancing social welfare across the Indo-Pacific region.
Hub for Maritime and Entrepreneurial Innovation: Recognized by NITI Aayog for their developmental potential, the islands are slated for major projects like the proposed development on Great Nicobar, which includes building an international container trans-shipment terminal, a new international airport, power plants, and township developments.
GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES:
Great Nicobar Island Development: Development of a transshipment port aiming for a capacity of 16 million TEUs by 2058 to boost employment and the local economy? (Nicobar Times)?.
Tourism Enhancements: Development of high-end accommodations and leasing of beach land at Swaraj Dweep for increased tourist activities? (ABP LIVE)?.
Infrastructure Upgrades: Improvements to roads and maritime links, and plans for two new greenfield airports to enhance connectivity? (Swarajya – Read India Right)?? (DEFSTRAT)?.
The Chennai-Andaman and Nicobar Islands Optical Fiber Cable Project, completed in 2020, installed a cable to significantly enhance internet and communication across the islands
CHALLENGES:
Antagonizing China: The growing presence of China in the Indian Ocean, and its interests in key ports around the Bay of Bengal, poses a strategic challenge. India's enhancement of military presence on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands might provoke Beijing to seek similar military access in friendly nations bordering the Bay of Bengal, escalating regional tensions.
Lack of Reciprocity in Logistics Agreements: India’s hesitation to allow its strategic partners access to Andaman and Nicobar facilities under existing logistics agreements diminishes the operational effectiveness of these pacts and limits strategic collaboration opportunities.
Threat of Losing Autonomy: Collaboration involving sensitive technologies and data sharing with foreign entities could compromise India's strategic autonomy, particularly in the sensitive undersea domain.
Ecological Damage from Development Projects: Proposed projects like the Great Nicobar project threaten critical habitats, such as those of the Giant Leatherback turtles in Galathea Bay. The construction of infrastructure could also lead to significant ecological disruption.
Threat to Coral Reefs and Mangroves: Developmental activities, coupled with climate change impacts, pose severe risks to the coral reefs and mangroves, which are vital for maintaining ecological balance and supporting marine biodiversity.
Climate Change Impacts: Rising sea levels and increased cyclonic activities pose existential threats to the islands, with predictions of them becoming uninhabitable in the future. The 2004 tsunami highlighted the islands' vulnerability to natural disasters, causing massive loss of life and ecological damage.
Maritime Security Threats: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands face threats from illegal migration, human trafficking, and poaching. The remote location makes surveillance and enforcement challenging.
Proximity to Chinese Outposts: The proximity of Chinese-operated Coco Islands increases the strategic security challenges, necessitating heightened defense preparedness by India.
Encroachment in Tribal Areas: Development activities have encroached upon the lands of indigenous tribes, disrupting their traditional lifestyles and leading to conflicts over land and resources.
Socio-economic Disparities: The influx of migrants and settlers strains local resources, exacerbates socio-economic disparities, and leads to cultural and social tensions. The high cost of living and limited job opportunities contribute to a sense of isolation and discontent among the islanders.
WAY FORWARD:
Enhanced Surveillance and Intelligence: Deploy advanced surveillance systems and intelligence capabilities to monitor key maritime routes like the Malacca Strait, particularly near sensitive areas such as the Coco Islands. This will help deter potential threats and enhance regional security.
Eco-friendly Development Projects: Integrate sustainable practices in all new developments by mandating Environmental and Social Impact Assessments. Utilize green technologies in construction and operations to minimize ecological footprints.
Protection of Ecological Sites: Establish protected zones and significantly boost funding for conservation efforts targeting endangered species and habitats impacted by development, such as the Leatherback turtles in Galathea Bay.
Promote Responsible Tourism: Develop the tourism sector with an emphasis on eco-tourism and sustainability. This involves creating low-impact tourism facilities and services that preserve the islands' natural beauty while providing economic benefits.
Strengthen Regional Ties: Enhance diplomatic and economic relations with ASEAN countries and other regional players, leveraging the strategic geographic position of the ANI (Andaman and Nicobar Islands) to bolster economic, cultural, and security ties.
Indigenous Rights and Culture: Implement stringent policies to protect the rights and lands of indigenous tribes, preventing encroachment and preserving their cultural heritage.
Enhanced Disaster Response Capabilities: Upgrade disaster response infrastructure and training, enhancing the islands' readiness to cope with natural disasters such as tsunamis and cyclones.
Climate Adaptation Measures: Invest in climate change research and adopt adaptation strategies, such as constructing sea walls, promoting renewable energy, and preparing resettlement areas on higher ground.
Selective Technology Sharing: Carefully manage the sharing of sensitive technologies and data with foreign partners to maintain strategic autonomy, particularly in domains like undersea warfare.
Logistics and Defense Cooperation: Conditionally open military facilities to foreign navies based on reciprocal benefits and shared strategic objectives, enhancing operational effectiveness without compromising sovereignty.
Environmental and Climate Resilience: Ensure all developmental plans include robust climate adaptation measures to mitigate the impact of rising sea levels and extreme weather conditions, investing in resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding such challenges.
PRACTICE QUESTION:
Q. “The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are indispensable to India's strategic framework in the Indo-Pacific, providing unmatched military, economic, and geopolitical benefits”. Discuss. (10 marks, 150 words)
