MoS for Defence Ajay Bhatt visited the headquarters of Andaman & Nicobar Command (ANC) during a two-day visit to the islands. The visit which concluded today (September 19) included a comprehensive briefing and discussions on various operations with Commander-in-Chief, ANC Air Marshal Saju Balakrishnan. During the visit, MoS Ajay Bhatt held a number of interactions, which highlighted the strategic importance of the picturesque archipelago.
The Minister began his visit by paying homage to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose at Sankalp Smarak at INS Utkrosh. It was followed by a courtesy meeting with Lt Governor Admiral DK Joshi (Retd) at Raj Niwas.
The two-day visit of the MoS to the ANC headquarters comes at a time when the Indian government is focusing on strengthening its military presence in the Indo-Pacific region. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are strategically located in the Bay of Bengal and play a vital role in India’s maritime security.
The Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC) is the only tri-service theatre command of the Indian Armed Forces. The Command was created in 2001 to safeguard India’s strategic interests in Southeast Asia and the Strait of Malacca by enhancing the deployment of military assets in the region.
The ANC also plays a crucial role in Human Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Operations, and regional security cooperation, engaging with other countries in the Indo-Pacific. Additionally, the ANC holds joint military exercises with friendly nations to improve interoperability and strengthen cooperative efforts. The Command is significant for India’s power projection capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region as it is capable of deploying military assets quickly and efficiently around the region. This is particularly important in light of the fast-changing geopolitical dynamics.
