India's Strategic Calculus in the Indian Ocean: Mauritius, Maldives, and the China Factor

Key Developments and Implications

Agaléga: A Strategic Asset for India: India's construction of an airstrip and jetty on Mauritius' Agaléga Island strengthens its maritime posture in the Southwest Indian Ocean. Key potential benefits for India include:

• Augmented Situational Awareness: The facilities offer enhanced Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), increasing India's ability to monitor and secure vital shipping lanes in the region.

• Capacity for Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR): The infrastructure will bolster India's capabilities to extend humanitarian and disaster relief support to the region, promoting its image as a responsible power.

• Strategic Signalling: While concerns about militarisation exist, the development signals India's intent to engage as a security partner for Mauritius and other regional actors.

The Maldives: Adapting to Shifting Dynamics: The replacement of Indian military personnel with civilian technical experts in the Maldives reflects the complex political landscape of the island nation. This underscores:

• Domestic Politics and Strategic Partnerships: Changes in domestic political leadership within Indian Ocean nations can significantly impact their foreign policy trajectories, influencing India's regional posture.

• Maintaining Resilient Ties: India's sustained commitment to technical cooperation and capacity building highlights its focus on cultivating enduring multifaceted relationships.

Geostrategic Significance of Mauritius and the Maldives

Both Mauritius and the Maldives hold critical importance for India's strategic interests in the Indian Ocean:

• Sea Lane Sentinels: Their locations provide valuable platforms to monitor critical Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs), crucial for trade and energy security.

• Partnership for Regional Initiatives: These island nations offer India opportunities to promote collaborative efforts on non-traditional security issues such as climate change, disaster resilience, and blue economy development.

• Balancing China's Rise: India's strategic engagement with Mauritius and the Maldives forms a crucial part of its efforts to counterbalance China's expanding footprint in the Indian Ocean propelled by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Complexities and Imperatives in India-Maldives Relations

• Rich Historical Ties: India and the Maldives share deep historical bonds, with India's "Neighbourhood First" policy prioritising cooperation with the island state.

• Domestic Politics and Shifting Alignments: The recent electoral success of a pro-China administration highlights how shifts in Maldivian domestic politics can create complexities in the bilateral relationship.

• The Need for Nuanced Engagement: Despite political challenges, India's security and geopolitical considerations necessitate ongoing efforts to sustain the partnership and protect its interests.

A Robust Partnership: India and Mauritius

• Strong Foundations: Robust economic ties, a vibrant Indian diaspora, and shared cultural underpinnings contribute to the strength of this relationship.

• Agaléga's Strategic Implications: While raising sovereignty debates, the development of Agaléga signals deepening strategic cooperation and enhanced maritime capabilities, bolstering India's Indian Ocean strategy.

China's Indian Ocean Ambitions and India's Response

China's Motivations: China's Indian Ocean strategy is driven by the need to secure trade routes, protect resource access, and project its influence on the global stage.

The "String of Pearls" Concern: China's development of potential dual-use port facilities in the Indian Ocean fuels India's strategic concerns.

India's Comprehensive Approach: India's countermeasures include:

• Expanding Strategic Partnerships: Prioritising partnerships with island nations and other regional actors.

• Naval Modernisation: Focused efforts on developing blue-water naval capabilities.

• Quad and Multilateralism: Active participation in the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) and platforms like IORA.

• The SAGAR Initiative: Promoting Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), emphasising the value of a cooperative, rule-based order.

Map Work and Background Analysis

Mauritius

• Location: Find Mauritius in the southwest Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. Observe its proximity to vital shipping lanes.

• Agaléga Island: Locate the Agaléga Islands north of Mauritius. Consider their strategic value for monitoring the surrounding ocean space.

• Mauritius' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ): Explore the vast expanse of the Mauritian EEZ and understand how enhanced capabilities on Agaléga can improve the nation's ability to monitor and manage its oceanic resources.

Maldives

• Location: Pinpoint the Maldives archipelago southwest of India and Sri Lanka. Take note of its distribution across critical trade routes.

• Addu Atoll: Locate the southernmost Addu Atoll, where Indian technical personnel are aiding in helicopter operations. Recognize its logistical significance.

• Proximity to China's String of Pearls: Consider the Maldives' position relative to potential Chinese naval bases (ex: Djibouti, Gwadar Port in Pakistan), fueling India's strategic concerns.

India and Mauritius - Background

• Historical Bonds: Delve into the shared colonial history of India and Mauritius under British rule. Highlight the role of Indian indentured labor in shaping Mauritius' demographics and its enduring cultural connection to India.

• Post-Independence Convergence: Trace the evolution of bilateral relations after the independence of both nations. Emphasize India's role in Mauritius' development journey and continued security cooperation.

• Cultural Affinity: Explore the sizeable Indian diaspora in Mauritius and its contributions to preserving Indian traditions, festivals, and languages – a key factor in strengthening diplomatic ties.

India and Maldives - Background

• Operation Cactus (1988): Recall India's decisive intervention in the Maldives during a coup attempt, safeguarding the nation's sovereignty and underscoring India's commitment to the stability of its smaller neighbors.

• Tsunami Relief and India's First Responder Role: Highlight India's swift humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts in the aftermath of the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, cementing its image as a responsible power in the region.

• Fluctuating Dynamics: Consider the more recent political shifts in the Maldives, with periods of pro-India and pro-China governments influencing the trajectory of bilateral relations.

Key Takeaways for UPSC Aspirants

• The Indian Ocean region is defined by dynamic geopolitics. Aspirants should be able to analyse the strategic motivations of key players like India, China, and others.

• Understand how domestic politics in the smaller countries of this region can directly impact India's strategic interests and its ability to counterbalance other powers.

• Familiarise yourself with critical terminology like SLOCs, EEZ, MDA, HADR, and their relevance to assessing maritime security and power projection.

• Recognise the role of India's initiatives like SAGAR and its participation in groups like the Quad and IORA as part of a complex, multifaceted strategy for the region.

Disclaimer: The provided map work and background analysis offer a solid starting point. UPSC aspirants are strongly encouraged to supplement this with in-depth resources, atlas studies, and up-to-date news analysis to ensure comprehensive preparation.

Bookmark our News Decode page for the latest current affairs analysis tailored for your UPSC Civil Services journey!