Indian Armed Forces II Indian Military Bases in the World

India has established a limited number of military bases and outposts outside its borders, primarily for strategic and security purposes. These include facilities in Tajikistan, Bhutan, Nepal, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, and Oman. 

Military bases are usually owned and operated by or for a certain branch of the military. A military base could be used to store equipment or shelter military personnel or it could be used for training personnel of friendly foreign armies. 

What Purpose do Indian Army Overseas Bases Serve? 

Apart from the countless army bases in India, there are several crucial and strategic Indian military bases around the world. The Indian military bases outside India are usually facilities that are operated by or for the military of a certain country to shelter its military equipment & personnel and facilitate training and operations. The presence of such overseas military bases enables governments to achieve their military, trade and political objectives in exchange for peace, support or additional protection. Depending on the size and infrastructure, overseas Indian military bases can be utilized as staging locations or for communications, logistical, and intelligence assistance.

Indian military bases in foreign countries also help host nations equip and train their own defence forces. As part of its national security and defence strategy, India has always actively cooperated with neighbouring countries and other foreign powers. Combined Training exercises, drills, port calls, exchange of vital information and frequent visits or contacts by higher authorities are all part of establishing and inspiring confidence in the interests of security of both nations. 

Indian Military Bases Outside India

The Indian Government has been working on establishing Indian military bases outside India to project its military power thereby controlling and influencing events overseas. India has been actively seeking to establish more overseas Indian military bases since China has been actively setting up bases in strategic locations of China Sea, Indian Ocean, Arabian Ocean and other locations as per China String of Pearls to control and govern strategic global supply chains. To counter Chinese BRI and String of Pearls initiative, India has been building military bases around the world – Necklace Theory. India has established military bases - air force bases, naval base, and army bases outside India in the following strategic locations around the World.

Tajikistan.  The Indian air base in Tajikistan or the Farkhor Air Base is the first and one of the most important Indian air bases outside India. It is located 130 km to the southeast of Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. Air base is operated by the Indian Air Force in collaboration with the Tajik air force. It was extensively used by the Indian Air force as a standby base for its aircraft to evacuate Indians from Kabul during the Afghan Crisis.

Bhutan.    Indian Military Training Team (IMTRAT) is based in Haa Dzong in Western Bhutan. This military base outside India is an Indian army base specifically serving as a training facility in Bhutan. It is also responsible for training tof troops and officers from the Royal Bodyguard of Bhutan (RBG) and Royal Bhutan Army (RBA).

Nepal.    India has a positive and friendly relationship with Nepal. The Indian air force has set up an overseas air force base in Surkhet to rotects Nepal against all forms of aerial threats. Apart from these arrangements, India also provides armament, high altitude warfare and hand to hand combat training to Nepalese military forces.

Madagascar.   Indian military base in Indian Ocean was established In 2007 as Listening Post in northern Madagascar to detect and monitor shipping movements. This was India’s first foreign listening post. This military base has also helped the Madagascar Navy to survey the country’s coastal area. Over recent years, the Indian Navy has developed close ties with the naval forces of several countries in the Indian Ocean area. 

Mauritius.     India is working with Mauritius to set up a military base on North Agalega Island. This island has been leased to the Indian military for deploying a coastal surveillance radar system and developing several strategic assets.

Maldives.   The Indian Navy also protects the Maldives by constantly surveying and monitoring the waterways of Maldives. The Indian military base in Maldives i.e., the Coastal Surveillance Radar station protects the Maldives against the danger of piracy in the surrounding waterways.

Seychelles.    India also operates and maintains a coastal surveillance radar system in the archipelagic Seychelles. Recently, India signed a defence agreement with Seychelles for the construction of an Indian naval base on Assumption Island. The main purpose of this Indian naval base outside India is to counter the String of Pearls strategy by China. 

Oman.     India has a total of 4 military bases in Oman - 3 naval bases and 1 air base. India has a listening station in Ras al Hadd in Oman. Listening stations are stations set up by a country near enemy lines to detect movements by sound and also for intercepting crucial electronic communications. India also has berthing privileges at the Muscat naval base. This means that the Indian navy vessels can enter and leave the base at all times and access the facilities at the Muscat naval base. Duqm, the central-eastern port town of Oman on the Arabian Sea has an Indian Air Force base and an Indian Naval base. 

Iran.  Chabahar Port in south-eastern Iran is Iran’s one and only oceanic port located on the Gulf of Oman. In December 2018, India took over the operations of the Chabahar Port. India signed a $2 billion rail cooperation pact with Iran in January 2018. The agreement includes an MoU (Memorandum of understanding) worth 600 million US Dollars to help Iran acquire freight wagons and locomotives from India.

Mozambique.    India has a strong working military relationship with the southeast African nation of Mozambique. The Indian Navy was in charge of Mozambique’s maritime security during the World Economic Forum and the African Union summit held in Mozambique in 2003.

Sri Lanka.    India acquired a Sri Lankan Air Force base in Hambantota in 2018 for surveillance and monitor movements of the Chinese Navy. Air Force Base in Sri Lanka can be used to counter any potential Chinese presence in IOR (Indian Oceanic Region).

Singapore.    Singapore signed a naval cooperation agreement with India on the 29^th of November 2017, to counter the Chinese expansionism strategy in the Straits of Malacca. This naval cooperation agreement has helped India establish its military presence on the Chinese trade route accounting for 70% of China’s trade. Singapore’s Changi Naval Base serves as an Indian Naval base outside India.

Final Thoughts.     These bases and outposts are part of India's broader strategy to enhance its security, project its influence in the Indian Ocean region, and counter potential threats and contain Chinese’s String of Pearls. While India has multiple overseas bases, there are no foreign military bases in India.