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As Prime Minister Narendra Modi gears up for a landmark visit to the Maldives on July 26, coinciding with the island nation’s Independence Day, geopolitical tensions in the Indian Ocean Region are once again in sharp focus. With China expanding its economic and military influence in the region, India is responding with calculated strategic moves. The most significant of which is the recent operationalisation of the Indian Navy’s INS Jatayu naval base on Minicoy Island, Lakshadweep.
Located just 250 kilometres from the Maldives, INS Jatayu is emerging as a key outpost in India’s naval strategy to monitor and, if required, choke Chinese maritime trade routes through the Indian Ocean. It is a corridor through which over 80% of China’s energy supplies and global shipping transit.
Jatayu: India’s Southern Sentinel in the Indian Ocean
INS Jatayu is positioned north of the Nine Degree Channel, one of the busiest and most strategic shipping lanes in the world. Every day, more than 15,000 merchant vessels — roughly 10 to 12 every minute — pass through this route, which links the Middle East, Africa, and Russia to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Rim.
This channel is not just a global shipping lifeline — it’s also a strategic vulnerability for China, which depends heavily on these waters for its oil and trade imports. Until recently, India’s main point was the Andaman & Nicobar Command, guarding the Malacca Strait choke point. With the establishment of INS Jatayu, India has a second lever, which is located even closer to China’s logistical lifelines.
China’s Calculated Moves and India’s Counterbalance
China’s expanding footprint in the Maldives, part of its so-called “String of Pearls” strategy, has been a growing concern for New Delhi. From financing major infrastructure projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to influencing regional politics, Beijing has aggressively sought to gain leverage in South Asia’s smallest nations.
President Mohamed Muizzu’s rise to power in the Maldives in 2023 brought this issue into sharper relief. Campaigning on an “India Out” platform, Muizzu pushed for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel and pivoted early in his presidency towards China, choosing Beijing as his first foreign destination. A series of decisions taken after his return, including reducing Indian defence presence, raised eyebrows in New Delhi.
However, Muizzu’s attendance at PM Modi’s third-term swearing-in ceremony in June 2024 and Modi’s upcoming visit signal a potential thaw. Diplomats see this as New Delhi regaining influence in Male, even as Beijing watches nervously from the sidelines.
Why China Is Watching Closely
China’s vulnerability in the Indian Ocean stems not from military inferiority but from logistical dependence. Nearly all of its trade with Africa and the Gulf states — especially oil — travels via sea. Should tensions escalate, India now holds strategic points at both Andaman & Nicobar (east) and Minicoy (west) to disrupt this flow.
INS Jatayu, therefore, is more than just a naval facility. It’s a message to Beijing: India is prepared and positioned to counterbalance Chinese expansionism across multiple fronts.
Key capabilities planned or under development at INS Jatayu include:
- A 2.5 km airstrip capable of accommodating military transport aircraft.
- Deployment of a BrahMos land-based missile battery, strengthening deterrence capabilities.
- A fully functional coastal radar station to monitor surface and submarine activity across a wide swathe of the Arabian Sea.
INS Jatayu: A Game-Changer in Maritime Strategy
Indian Navy officials have described INS Jatayu as a “maritime equaliser,” particularly as China’s commercial and naval vessels increase their presence in the Indian Ocean.
Beyond its symbolic importance, the base will play a critical role in:
- Surveillance and monitoring of traffic in and around the Nine Degree Channel.
- Serving as a forward-operating base for naval and aerial missions.
- Acting as a logistics hub for anti-piracy and humanitarian operations.
As China doubles down on its investments in the Maldives, including building ports, airports, and bridges, India’s moves remain firm but focused on regional stability. The timing of Modi’s visit, coupled with the strategic build-up at INS Jatayu, serves as both an olive branch to the Maldives and a firm hand to China.
India’s Strategic Masterstroke
Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the Maldives conveys multiple strategic messages: a reset of bilateral relations, a counter to China’s rising influence, and a strong reaffirmation of India’s naval assertiveness in its backyard.
Huma Siddiqui
