By N. C. Bipindra

New Delhi: India is targeting the completion of a major air base and naval jetty construction on Agaléga Island in Mauritius by the end of 2026, a project that underscores New Delhi’s expanding maritime reach in the Indian Ocean while sharply contrasting with China’s controversial “debt-trap diplomacy” model.

Two senior Indian government officials told Defence Capital that India will exit the facility upon completion, fully handing over the completed military-grade infrastructure to the Mauritian government as per the bilateral agreement.

“We are unlike the Chinese, who trap their partner nations in debt after constructing key infrastructure like air bases, naval bases, and ports,” one of the officials said on condition of anonymity.

Strategic Importance of Agaléga

Agaléga, located over 1,000 kilometres north of Mauritius’ main island, occupies a key position in the western Indian Ocean, an increasingly contested zone where global powers are competing for influence.

The Mauritian island is only about 1,767 kilometres away from West-administered Diego Garcia, another island in the central Indian Ocean, the control of which is under discussion between Mauritius, which has sovereignty over it, and the United Kingdom, which got it on a 99-year lease.

Once completed, the Agaléga airstrip will reportedly be capable of supporting the Indian Navy’s P-8I maritime patrol aircraft and surveillance operations across the Mozambique Channel, a crucial maritime route for energy shipments and trade.

The dual-use facilities — including a 3,000-meter runway, a modern jetty, and supporting logistics infrastructure — represent one of India’s most ambitious overseas construction efforts.

Unlike China’s Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka or the Djibouti naval base, however, the Agaléga project is built on a grant-based partnership, not a loan that risks turning into long-term financial dependency.

No Hidden Agenda: India’s Development Model

Officials emphasised that India’s intent is transparent: to strengthen the security and economic resilience of friendly nations without undermining their sovereignty.

“India builds to empower, not to entrap,” said the second official. “Mauritius is a valued maritime partner, and the facilities we’re developing will belong fully to them.”

This position marks a clear distinction from Beijing’s approach. China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects have been widely criticised for creating unsustainable debt burdens in smaller economies.

Countries such as Sri Lanka, which leased Hambantota Port to China for 99 years after defaulting on debt payments, and Pakistan, where Gwadar Port has raised local sovereignty concerns, serve as stark examples.

A Cornerstone of India’s Indian Ocean Strategy

The Agaléga base forms part of India’s wider strategy to secure sea lanes and counter growing Chinese naval activity in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Along with facilities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and growing naval partnerships with the Maldives, Seychelles, and Madagascar, the Mauritius project strengthens India’s “Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions” (MAHASAGAR) vision announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India’s involvement in Agaléga dates back to 2015, when the two nations signed a memorandum of understanding to develop infrastructure supporting the island’s socio-economic development and maritime security.

The project, which has faced some local opposition over environmental and sovereignty concerns, has since been clarified as a fully Mauritian-owned facility, built with Indian technical and financial assistance.

Exit by 2026: No Military Base Claim

According to the officials, construction is progressing rapidly, with the airstrip nearing completion and the naval jetty expected to be operational by late 2026.

Once India completes the handover, the country will have no permanent military presence on the island. “There will be no Indian troops stationed there, and no base under Indian control,” one official reaffirmed. “The entire facility will remain under Mauritius’ sovereign jurisdiction.”

A Model of Responsible Partnership

India’s Agaléga project is increasingly viewed as a model for responsible strategic cooperation, one that balances regional security needs with respect for partner nations’ independence.

As China faces global scrutiny for its debt-fueled expansion, India’s grant-based, transparent, and time-bound approach in Mauritius signals an alternative vision for development in the Indo-Pacific.

By completing the Agaléga air base and jetty by 2026 and exiting as promised, New Delhi aims to demonstrate that partnerships in the Indian Ocean can be built on trust, and not debt.

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