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India to commission 2nd naval base near Maldives Wednesday

The Indian Navy will commission Naval Detachment Minicoy as INS Jatayu, its second naval base in Lakshadweep Islands, Wednesday March 06, 2024. Read More

Wednesday March 6, 2024 0:24 AM, ummid.com News Network

New Delhi: The Indian Navy will commission Naval Detachment Minicoy as INS Jatayu, its second naval base in Lakshadweep Islands, Wednesday March 06, 2024.

Minicoy is the southernmost island of Lakshadweep which straddles the vital Sea Lines of Communications (SLOCs).

The commissioning event to be held in the presence of Adm R Hari Kumar the, Chief of the Naval Staff marks an important milestone in the Indian Navy’s resolve to incrementally augment security infrastructure at the strategically important Lakshadweep Islands.

“INS Jatayu is the second Naval base in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti”, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

“With the commissioning of INS Jatayu, the Indian Navy will strengthen its foothold in the Lakshadweep islands and along with extending operational surveillance, reach and sustenance, it will usher in a new era of capacity building and comprehensive development of the island territories”, the Ministry said.

“The Naval base will enhance operational reach and facilitate Indian Navy’s operational effort towards Anti-Piracy and Anti-Narcotics Operations in Western Arabian Sea”, the Ministry said.

“It will also augment Indian Navy’s capability as the first responder in the region and augment connectivity with the mainland. The establishment of a Naval base is in line with the Govt of India’s focus towards comprehensive development of islands”, it said.

The commissioning of INS Jatayu in Minicoy Island comes amid heightened tension between Indian and newly elected Maldives government which is led by pro-China Mohamed Muizzu.

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu won the 2024 elections promising to remove the Indian troops from the island.

In a fresh worsening of relationship between the two, Mohamed Muizzu Tuesday said the Indian soldiers in civil dresses will also be not allowed in the island.

The latest diktat of Mohamed Muizzu came after Maldives signed a military co-operation agreement with China.

"There will be no Indian troops in the country come May 10. Not in uniform and not in civilian clothing. The Indian military will not be residing in this country in any form of clothing. I state this with confidence," he said, on a day when his country signed an agreement with China to receive free military aid.

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