By Soumyadip Mondal
The Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands are the most significant maritime frontier of India, and they demonstrate India's increasing importance in the security landscape of the Indo-Pacific. The islands, in the modern era of mounting maritime geopolitical issues, are not just considered a distant outpost or frontier but rather are central to India's strategy to secure Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) and maintain regional peace. Their importance is not simply geographic, but also the extent to which geography is translated into strategic capacity and surveillance opportunities to enhance diplomatic reach.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands occupy an important geostrategic position located right next to the Strait of Malacca, the world’s most important marine passageway for oil and trade.
India has therefore developed enhanced means of protecting and promoting its interests in international waters where many of the world’s largest economies are located. The creation of Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) marks the first Indian Tri-service command and showcases a transition in doctrine indicating India’s commitment to build up its maritime strength and positioning itself as a Major Maritime power. Besides, India perceives maritime security as the most significant aspect of being a major stakeholder in the Indo-Pacific region throughout the 21st century.
In the past two decades, India has made a substantial investment in military infrastructure and surveillance capability in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands which has made these islands more and more strategically important. Constructing INS Baaz, INS Kohassa, and the connecting coastal radar links have all contributed to enhancing India's capacity to detect and react to any intrusion into its waters and at the same time enabling a more coordinated approach to observe and deter activities in the eastern sector of the Indian Ocean. In a broader geopolitical context, these islands represent a counterbalance to China's growing influence and dominance through its “String of Pearls” strategy. The islands’ proximity to the Malacca Strait, the center of China’s “Malacca Dilemma”,enables India to exert a deterrent effect on potential aggressors and positions India to assume the emerging responsibility of becoming a “net security provider” in the Indian Ocean region.
Still, the geopolitical importance of A&N goes beyond military calculations. It is also a manifestation of India’s maritime diplomacy and regional cooperation. India uses A&N as an instrument of regional cooperation via initiatives like SAGAR , Quad, and Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), notably surrounding joint exercises, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief. To some extent, the usual military engagements and exercises like MILAN and Malabar, reflect this outward aspect of A&N. These initiatives encourage integration of friendly navies while also demonstrating India’s commitment to a free, open, and rules-based maritime order.
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands have great strategic importance but still are not fully exploited due to the logistic problems, poor infrastructure, and strict environmental regulations. The ecological sensitivity of the area requires a well-planned military infrastructure of the area, tourism, and nature conservation to ensure that the national security imperative, the environment and community can coexist. The islands are strategically located at the intersection of traditional and non-traditional security domains , they are both deterrent and power projection tools and at the same time contribute to tackling piracy, illegal fishing, and humanitarian crises. Their location next to Southeast Asia not only helps India in the rapid disaster response, as seen after the 2004 tsunami but also improves India's soft power and its goal of becoming a leading power in the Indo-Pacific region.
Another important dimension relates to the potential for connectivity and economic integration. In light of the increased focus on the Blue Economy, the islands can transition into a hub for trade, renewable energy, and sustainable fisheries. The infrastructure development through the “Act East” policy can link A&N more closely with Southeast Asian states while enhancing India’s engagement in the Bay of Bengal subregion through frameworks such as the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). This economic dimension balances the security dimension by positioning the islands as a point of convergence for trade, technology, and sustainability.
Importantly, we must recognise that geography, as a measure of strategic importance, does not guarantee influence. As geopolitical theorist Alfred Thayer Mahan contended that control of the sea is the result of both location and capability. For India, a major issue will be transforming the geographical advantage of A&N into operationalised maritime power with infrastructure, logistics and diplomatic flexibility. If A&N grew responsibly with deep-draft ports, airstrips, and communications systems, it could strengthen resilience in the islands as platforms supporting India's approach to the Indo-Pacific.
In summary, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands reflect an advancement in India as a maritime power that is balancing between tradition and change. The islands represent the crossroads of geography, strategy, and diplomacy , the components of India’s regional security outlook. The Indo-Pacific will be a landscape of great-power competition and cooperative security, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands will remain central to India’s strategic considerations. The challenge for us is not to simply militarise the Islands, but rather to merge the Islands, security, sustainability, and the region. This may ensure that the Andaman and Nicobar Islands continue to be India’s guardians of the strait, safeguarding the arteries of global commerce and realising the opportunity for an open and stable Indo-Pacific order.
Soumyadip Mondal is a Master’s student in International Studies at Christ University, Bengaluru. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect the views of Kalinga Institute of Indo-Pacific Studies.
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