As China’s influence continues to grow, the Indo-Pacific region has become the focus of significant geostrategic maneuvers, with the QUAD nations—India, the United States, Australia, and Japan—seeking to curb China’s aggressive posturing. One of the critical areas witnessing substantial military infrastructure development is the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), where Indian military bases such as INS Baaz and the airbase at Car Nicobar are being upgraded to enhance operational readiness. This renewed push is in line with the broader strategic goals of the QUAD alliance, aimed at countering China’s rising influence in the region.

In recent years, the global geopolitical landscape has shifted from the South China Sea (SCS) to the larger Indo-Pacific region. China’s belligerent actions in the SCS have triggered a strategic response from the QUAD nations, who are increasingly viewing the Indo-Pacific as the central theater of competition. The US, with its extensive military presence in the region, plays a pivotal role. Bases like Andersen Air Force Base in Guam and Kadena Air Base in Okinawa are instrumental in the US’s strategy to project power and deter potential adversaries in the Asia-Pacific region.

However, the focus is not solely on the Pacific. The Indian Ocean, a crucial maritime route for global trade and energy supplies, has become a strategic battleground. Key military bases in the IOR, including those in Diego Garcia, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and India’s own bases at INS Baaz and Car Nicobar, are becoming focal points in the QUAD’s efforts to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Diego Garcia: Unsinkable Aircraft Carrier

Diego Garcia, a strategically located atoll in the Chagos Archipelago, plays a critical role in the US’s military strategy in the Indian Ocean. Often referred to as the “Malta of the Indian Ocean,” Diego Garcia is jointly administered by the United States and the United Kingdom. Its strategic location, roughly 3,535 km east of the coast of Tanzania and 1,796 km southwest of India, makes it an ideal forward military hub.

The atoll has been a significant US military base since the 1970s, providing logistical support, hosting bomber aircraft, and serving as a staging ground for operations across the Middle East and South Asia. The base’s infrastructure includes two 12,000-foot-long runways, extensive parking aprons for heavy bombers, deep-water ports, and massive fuel storage facilities. These capabilities make Diego Garcia a vital asset for the US, particularly as tensions with China continue to escalate.

Cocos (Keeling) Islands: Australia’s Strategic Outpost

Australia’s Cocos (Keeling) Islands, located midway between Australia and Sri Lanka, are another strategic asset in the IOR. The islands’ proximity to critical shipping lanes in the Indian and Pacific Oceans makes them a valuable location for monitoring and controlling maritime traffic, particularly through the Malacca, Sunda, and Lombok Straits.

During World War II, the islands played a crucial role as a base for Allied bomber operations against Japanese targets in Southeast Asia. Today, the airstrip on West Island is being upgraded to support the Royal Australian Air Force’s P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The airstrip’s strategic location has also attracted interest from the United States, which has used it as a stopover point for military aircraft traveling between Diego Garcia and Guam.

Australia’s decision to enhance the military capabilities of the Cocos Islands reflects its commitment to countering China’s influence in Southeast Asia. The island’s upgraded facilities will enable Australia and its QUAD allies to monitor and potentially control key maritime chokepoints, ensuring the free flow of trade and energy supplies through these critical waterways.

Car Nicobar: India’s Gateway to East

Car Nicobar, part of India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands, is a strategically located airbase in the Bay of Bengal. The island’s proximity to key shipping lanes and its location near the Strait of Malacca make it a crucial asset for India’s defense strategy in the region. The airbase, operated by the Indian Air Force (IAF), has seen significant upgrades in recent years, including an extension of the runway and improvements to the base’s infrastructure.

The airbase at Car Nicobar was originally built by the Japanese during World War II and later used by the British Royal Air Force. After independence, the Indian Air Force took control of the base, and it has since become a critical part of India’s defense posture in the region. The base was severely damaged during the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, but it was quickly rebuilt and resumed operations within months.

Today, Car Nicobar serves as a forward operating base for IAF aircraft, including Jaguar maritime strike aircraft and Su-30MKI fighters. The base’s strategic location allows Indian forces to monitor and respond to threats in the eastern Indian Ocean, including the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. With recent infrastructure upgrades, Car Nicobar is poised to become an even more significant player in India’s military strategy.

INS Baaz: India’s Southern Sentinel

Further south, INS Baaz, located at Campbell Bay on Great Nicobar Island, is India’s southernmost military airstrip. Inaugurated in 2012, INS Baaz is a forward operating base of the Indian Navy and plays a crucial role in India’s maritime surveillance and patrolling operations in the eastern Indian Ocean. The base’s location near the six-degree channel, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world, makes it a key asset in ensuring the security of global maritime trade routes.

INS Baaz currently operates Dornier 228 aircraft and helicopters, which conduct regular surveillance missions in the region. However, plans are underway to extend the runway to accommodate larger aircraft, including the Indian Navy’s P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The extension of the runway will significantly enhance India’s ability to project power in the region and respond to emerging threats, particularly from China’s increasing presence in the Indian Ocean.

The development of INS Baaz is part of a broader strategy by the Indian government to bolster its military capabilities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The integrated tri-service Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) was established in 2001 to oversee the defense of these strategically important islands. The command’s responsibilities include monitoring critical trade routes and ensuring the security of India’s maritime borders.

QUAD’s Strategic Calculus

The QUAD nations’ focus on enhancing their military presence in the Indian Ocean and the Indo-Pacific region is a direct response to China’s growing influence and assertiveness. China’s militarization of the South China Sea, its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), and its increasing naval presence in the Indian Ocean have raised concerns among the QUAD countries about Beijing’s long-term strategic intentions.

In response, the QUAD nations have sought to deepen their defense cooperation and enhance their military capabilities in the region. This includes joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, and the development of key military bases that can serve as forward operating hubs in the event of a conflict.

For India, the development of military infrastructure in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a critical component of its strategy to counter China’s influence in the region. The islands’ proximity to the Malacca Strait, one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints, makes them a vital asset in India’s defense strategy. By enhancing its military presence in the region, India aims to deter potential Chinese aggression and ensure the security of its maritime borders.

In addition to military infrastructure, the Indian government is also focused on enhancing connectivity and infrastructure in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This includes the development of new ports, airports, and roads, which will not only improve the quality of life for residents but also enhance the islands’ strategic value.

One of the key projects is the development of a new international airport and harbor at Campbell Bay, near INS Baaz. The airport will have a runway capable of handling large military and civilian aircraft, while the harbor will include a cargo terminal to support maritime trade and military operations. These developments are part of a broader effort to integrate the Andaman and Nicobar Islands into India’s national security framework and strengthen its presence in the eastern Indian Ocean.

As the QUAD nations continue to enhance their military presence in the Indo-Pacific, the focus will increasingly be on developing coordinated defense postures that can effectively counter China’s influence in the region. This will involve not only the development of military infrastructure but also closer cooperation between the QUAD nations in areas such as intelligence sharing, joint military exercises, and coordinated responses to potential threats.

The development of military bases in the Indian Ocean, including Diego Garcia, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, INS Baaz, and Car Nicobar, will play a critical role in this strategy. These bases provide the QUAD nations with the ability to project power across the Indo-Pacific and ensure the security of critical maritime trade routes.

For India, the ongoing development of military infrastructure in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a key component of its broader strategy to counter China’s influence in the region. By enhancing its military presence and capabilities in the Indian Ocean, India aims to protect its national interests and contribute to the broader security of the Indo-Pacific.

The Indo-Pacific region is rapidly becoming the central theater of global geopolitical competition. As China continues to assert its influence, the QUAD nations are increasingly focused on countering Beijing’s ambitions through a combination of military preparedness, strategic partnerships, and infrastructure development.

In this context, the renewed focus on Indian military bases at INS Baaz and Car Nicobar is a critical part of the broader effort to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific. These bases, along with other strategic assets in the region, will play a key role in maintaining the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific and safeguarding the interests of the QUAD nations.