Defense News

India & Myanmar

India has expressed concerns over renewed construction activities observed through satellite images on Myanmar's isolated Great Coco Islands, situated just 55 kilometers north of the strategic Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Deccan Chronicle reported that there have been previous allegations of the Chinese military using these islands as a listening post to spy on Indian activities.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands fall under India’s only operational tri-services command — the Andaman and Nicobar Command — and host several strategic Naval and Air Force bases.

The construction activities on Great Coco Islands are raising alarm in India due to the close relationship between Myanmar’s military junta and China.

According to Damien Symon, a geospatial intelligence researcher at the Intel Lab, and John Pollock from Chatham House, recent satellite images indicate a steady makeover of the islands, with signs of military modernization and facilities supporting aircraft. The images reveal the potential for Myanmar to conduct maritime surveillance operations from Great Coco Islands.

Visible developments include two new hangars, a new causeway, an accommodation bloc, a lengthened 2,300-meter runway, and a radar station. Land clearing efforts on the southern tip of Great Coco Islands indicate ongoing construction work.

In January, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited the Andaman and Nicobar Command headquarters in Port Blair to review operational preparedness. This visit marked his first trip to Indira Point since January 2019. He also visited INS Baaz, the southernmost Air Station of the Indian Armed Forces, located at Campbell Bay in Great Nicobar Island.