India’s island territories, particularly the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal and the Lakshadweep chain in the Arabian Sea, are increasingly being viewed as strategically significant assets in the country’s broader defence posture, especially amid concerns over China’s growing maritime footprint in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands, administered by India as a Union Territory, lie close to the Strait of Malacca—one of the world’s most critical shipping chokepoints through which a large share of global trade and energy supplies pass. Defence analysts note that this geographic positioning gives India a natural strategic advantage in monitoring maritime traffic and projecting naval presence across key sea lanes.

India has gradually strengthened its military infrastructure in the islands over the past two decades. The tri-services command headquartered at Port Blair integrates the Army, Navy, and Air Force, enabling coordinated operations across the region. This setup is widely seen as a key component of India’s deterrence strategy in the eastern Indian Ocean, particularly in response to China’s expanding naval activities and its “dual-use” infrastructure developments in nearby regions.

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The islands also play a role in India’s broader Indo-Pacific strategy, which emphasizes freedom of navigation, secure sea lanes, and regional balance of power. As China continues to expand its naval reach through overseas bases and port partnerships under its Belt and Road Initiative, India has sought to reinforce its presence in surrounding waters through patrols, surveillance systems, and upgraded air and naval facilities in its island territories.

Experts point out that while the islands alone do not constitute a counterweight to China’s military capabilities, their value lies in geography and access. Control over maritime routes near the Strait of Malacca provides India with both early warning capabilities and the ability to respond to potential disruptions in critical sea traffic.

At the same time, India has also been developing civilian infrastructure in the islands, including ports and airstrips, to support both economic growth and dual-use logistics. This dual approach—civilian development alongside military enhancement—reflects New Delhi’s attempt to balance regional development with strategic preparedness.

As geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific intensifies, India’s island territories are expected to remain central to its maritime strategy, serving as forward positions that enhance surveillance, deterrence, and rapid response capabilities in one of the world’s most strategically contested ocean regions.

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