India will now have a new naval base on the southernmost island of the Lakshadweep archipelago – on Minicoy island, that’s roughly 400 km from mainland Kochi to the East and 258 km from the Maldives to the South.
Indian Navy chief Admiral R Hari Kumar commissioned INS Jatayu which will be the second naval base in Lakshadweep after INS Dweeprakshak in Kavaratti.
INS Jatayu is part of the Navy’s plan to ‘incrementally augment security infrastructure at the strategically important’ islands.
“INS Jatayu is just sitting north of the 9 degree channel through which 90% of the world trade moves in this part of the world. Just like how we developed Andaman and Nicobar 20-30 years back, the focus has shifted here because the situation demands it, because Malé is getting closer to the dragon, the Chinese things, the footprint is increasing,” explained Capt DK Sharma (Retd) of Bharatshakti.in
The commissioning of INS Jatayu is significant as it comes just days ahead of India withdrawing all its personnel from the Maldives, as requested by President Mohamed Muizzu.
INS Jatayu’s origins lie in the Naval Detachment Minicoy set up in the early 1980s as a small unit with limited responsibilities. This is now being expanded into an independent base that will enhance the overall operational capability of the Indian Navy. It will boost its role as first responder in the region and strengthen connectivity with the mainland.
With INS Jatayu, the Indian Navy will strengthen its sea legs in the Lakshadweep islands.
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