India’s strategic development of Great Nicobar Island has emerged as a critical component of its outward-looking foreign policy, despite facing opposition from prominent political figures. Former Indian National Congress leader Sonia Gandhi recently published criticism in The Hindu newspaper, focusing primarily on environmental concerns while BJP representatives questioned the motivation behind her stance.
The initiative, known as the Great Nicobar Island Project (GNIP), represents a shift in India’s regional strategy after complications with the Trilateral Highway project involving Myanmar and Thailand, which was impacted by ongoing civil unrest in Myanmar. This
development comes as part of India’s broader Act East Policy, which evolved from the previous Look East Policy when Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014.
The strategic significance of the project lies in its proximity to the Malacca Strait, positioned just 160 kilometers from this crucial maritime chokepoint through which approximately 80% of China’s oil imports and 40% of global trade passes. The development encompasses plans for a deep-sea port, airport, and military facilities, enabling India to maintain surveillance over maritime traffic and project power across the eastern Indian Ocean region.
Despite recent diplomatic warming between China and India, their relationship remains fundamentally competitive. While both nations have shown interest in managing border tensions and expanding trade relations following the 2020 Galwan Valley confrontation, neither country views the other as a fully trusted partner. The GNIP appears designed to serve as a strategic counterweight to China’s regional influence, reflecting India’s distinctively transparent approach to foreign policy.
India’s Minister of External Affairs has been notably direct in articulating national interests, departing from the more subtle diplomatic approach typical of other nations. This “Hyper-Realist” foreign policy stance makes clear that while the GNIP has economic objectives, it also serves significant military-strategic purposes in establishing India’s position as a guardian of the Indian Ocean.
The project’s opponents, while potentially well-intentioned in their environmental concerns, may be inadvertently undermining India’s broader strategic interests. The development occurs against the backdrop of an evolving multipolar global order, where major powers like India are increasingly asserting their independent interests in relation to peer nations such as China.
This strategic positioning should not be interpreted as a return to unipolarity, but rather as a natural progression in establishing a balanced international power structure. The GNIP represents India’s practical approach to securing its regional interests while
maintaining stability in the emerging multipolar world order.
The initiative forms a crucial element of India’s maritime strategy, providing a platform for monitoring and potentially controlling critical sea lanes. While not explicitly aggressive toward China, the development creates a deterrent capability that could prove valuable should regional tensions escalate in the future.
As global power dynamics continue to evolve, the Great Nicobar Island Project exemplifies how infrastructure development can serve both economic and strategic objectives. It demonstrates India’s commitment to maintaining its influence in the Indian Ocean region while adapting to changing geopolitical realities. This approach aligns with India’s broader strategy of balancing regional powers while pursuing its national interests in an increasingly complex international
environment.