Agalega: Is India Still Interested in the Occupation?
Now, it looks like India will most probably write-off most of its debt towards the Pravind Jugnauth regime. But that does not mean Mauritius will not owe India anything
Rumours are that India is not interested anymore in the Agalega Island. This is mind boggling given the controversy surrounding it.
A secret military base is being built. The government did not agree with these accusations, saying there is not agreement to set up a military base in Agalega.
Reminiscent of the Diego Garcia saga, a disaster of which the UK and the USA are still not taking full responsibility.
India was serious in its attempt to develop its base on the Island. Particularly with a facility being built in the north.
The video below explains the fear of the local population of 300 people. It also exposes the work done by the Indians.
Agalega No More?
But why Agalega? Why was India so interested in the development of Agalega? Was it for military use or for tourist purposes? Or is it intended to be used as a landing base for operations in other parts of the Indian Ocean?
Some accusations against India was that it wanted to have a bigger footing in Mauritius. Hence its interest in Agalega.
But since the end of the covid-19 emergency, things are turning at a different angle, a source told World Future.
We did report that India could also plan to dump Mauritius in the long run for Mahe, or the Seychelles. See the link above.
In its Indian Ocean strategy, India may finally opt to work with the Seychelles rather than with Mauritius.
If this happens, it will be an Indian blow under the belly to Mauritius.
Will New Delhi’s strategic deal with the Seychelles become the cornerstone of its Indian Ocean strategy?
This is the question some in the diplomatic world are asking, and WFTV got wind of it.
The Indian strategy in the IO was largely dependent on Mauritius, Maldives and slightly towards the Seychelles.
Geopolitical Concerns
"It is not only for geopolitical concerns that India was putting its foot down in Agalega. The Island was to be used as a colateral for New Delhi.
"India has granted a lot of money to Mauritius, much of it without any plans for reimbursements. But New Delhi cannot continue pumping money in Mauritius.
"In this aspect, they took over Agalega and started to virtually administer the Agalega Island," World Future was told.
Now, it looks like India will most probably write-off most of its debt towards the Pravind Jugnauth regime. But that does not mean Mauritius will not owe India anything.
Instead, India will continue using Agalega for its own purposes, such as its use as a link between Mauritius and New Delhi. It will remain as a remote post for India to access in the event of emergencies.
But the geopolitical concerns of India in the Indian Ocean ends with its own territorial boundaries in the seas.
India's EEZ is bordered to the west by Pakistan, to the south by the Maldives and Sri Lanka and to the east by Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Based on new scientific data, India has petitioned United Nations to extend its EEZ from 200 Nautical miles to 350 miles.
But this does not include Agalega, indeed, It shows that India has other cats to whip than to pat Mauritius with cash and remote structural developments.
Countering the Chinese
India is indeed attempting to counter the influence of the Chinese in the Indian Ocean, among the litoral states in Africa and in Mauritius.
But militarily speaking, it is not possible for India to fight back against China's Belt and Road Initiative in Africa, the Indian Ocean and even Sri Lanka.
If Agalega was one of the spots chosen by India to fight back against China, this is not working.
Back To Port Louis
Back to Mauritius, the situation is not that bad for the regime of Pravind Jugnauth as it is still safely in power.
But with India backing out of its big plans for military use of Agalega, things may change in Port Louis.
India may also reduce its monetary assistance to Mauritius for many reasons. One of them being the contested and unproven so far, reduction of the Hindu population in the country.
Fearing that, New Delhi would rather stay away from Port Louis if a Hindu majority government does not remain in power in the future.