Image: Al Jazeera
Faizel Patel – 06/08/2021
Associate fellow at think tank Observer Research Foundation Abhishek Mishra says India’s plans to build a military base in Mauritius is an intelligence facility for the country to stage air and naval presence in order to increase surveillance in the wider South-West Indian Ocean and Mozambique channel.
Mishra was speaking to Radio Islam about the Al Jazeera article with published satellite images showing two large jetties and a 3-km-long runway that was being built in Agalega, located about 1,100 km from Mauritius’ main island.
Mauritius has denied a media report that it allowed India to build a military base on its island of Agalega.
Mishra says the facility is part of a memorandum of understanding that was signed by both the Indian and Mauritius government in 2015 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit.
“The initial secrecy as far as I am concerned is generally mostly because of ships because India is certainly a little worried about what China has been doing in recent years in that wider Indian Ocean region. It is considered a part of India’s extended maritime neighbourhood.”
Mishra says the details of the military base has been extensively debated in the Mauritian National Assembly.
“Why they are a little hesitant is that between any deal with India and Mauritius has been transparent. In my mind it was mainly of ships because sovereignty issues and all as we saw with the case of Diego Garcia.”
Mishra, says behind the scenes, Indian military personnel have spoken about the purpose of the Agaléga project.
Listen to the interview with Abishek Mishra
0 Comments