Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan (Retd.) ays the Coco Islands issue is likely overhyped, while limited Chinese surveillance could monitor areas like Landfall Island and parts of the Andaman Islands, building major military infrastructure so close to India would be difficult to defend, reducing the chances of it becoming a major threat from China. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvO0mrJWzZ0

Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan (Retd.) explains that Bangladesh’s conventional submarine acquisitions are classic sea-denial tools meant to restrict adversaries from using certain maritime areas, raising uncomfortable strategic questions for India about their intended target. Watch the full interview here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvO0mrJWzZ0

(AUDIO ONLY) India has taken a decisive step in reshaping its maritime future. With the clearance of a massive $11 billion mega-project in the Andaman & Nicobar region, the focus is now firmly on transforming Great Nicobar Island into one of the most strategic maritime hubs in the Indo-Pacific. Spanning nearly 30 years and covering approximately 166 sq km of the island, this ambitious development plan is far more than an infrastructure push - it is a geopolitical statement. At the heart of the project lies the proposed International Container Transhipment Terminal at Galathea Bay, designed to position India as a major global trade and shipping hub. Located close to the vital Strait of Malacca, one of the world’s busiest maritime chokepoints, the project dramatically enhances India’s ability to influence trade flows across the Indian Ocean. The development blueprint also includes: - A Greenfield international airport with dual civil-military capability - A 450 MW power plant (gas and solar-based) - A modern township to support long-term economic growth - Advanced maritime and surveillance infrastructure Strategically, this location strengthens India’s maritime posture, enhances surveillance across key sea lanes, and improves power projection capabilities deep into the Indian Ocean Region. Economically, the project aims to attract major foreign direct investment (FDI), elevate India’s transhipment capacity, and reduce dependence on foreign ports. It seeks to transform the island into a global trade hub while catalyzing economic activity in India’s eastern maritime frontier. Geopolitically, many analysts see this move as a long-term counter to China’s expanding footprint in the region, particularly its so-called “String of Pearls” strategy, a network of ports and maritime assets stretching across the Indian Ocean. In this in-depth conversation, we are joined by Vice Admiral Pradeep Chauhan (Retd.), who breaks down: - The strategic importance of Great Nicobar - The naval and security implications - India’s evolving maritime doctrine - How India's nuclear submarine program is expanding - The balance between economic ambition and environmental concerns - What this means for India’s competition with China - And whether this marks the rise of a stronger Indian maritime consciousness Is this India’s most ambitious maritime move yet? Can Great Nicobar redefine the strategic balance in the Bay of Bengal and beyond?And how does this shape India’s long-term deterrence and power projection? Chapters - 0:00-0:40 Opening 1:47-6:10 India vs China in the Bay? The Great Nicobar Project Explained 7:12-11:39 Strategic Concerns Rise Over Chinese Activity Near Andaman Waters 12:51-17:55 After Sheikh Hasina: Who Shapes Bangladesh’s Maritime Future? 19:00-22:05 Seven Sisters Without India: A Diplomatic Message from Bangladesh? 23:00-31:37 India’s Third Nuclear Submarine: A Turning Point Against China? 32:06- 38:21 Beyond Trade: Why the Ocean Is Also a Security Frontier 38:23-39:10 Closing #greatnicobarproject #indiamaritimestrategy #indopacific #indianoceanstrategy #indiachina #geopolitics #maritimesecurity #blueeconomy #indiannavy #bayofbengal #indopacificsecurity #strategicaffairs #globaltraderoutes #maritimepower #oceangeopolitics #southasiageopolitics #defenseanalysis #seapower #indianoceanregion #strategicstudies

Watch the full conversation - https://youtu.be/gQ4QlPme-I8

Watch the full conversation - https://youtu.be/gQ4QlPme-I8

Watch the full conversation - https://youtu.be/gQ4QlPme-I8

Watch the full conversation - https://youtu.be/gQ4QlPme-I8 #BangladeshPolitics #Jamaat #SouthAsia #IndiaBangladeshRelations #Geopolitics #RegionalSecurity #PoliticalIslam #DemocracyInSouthAsia #StrategicAffairs #NortheastIndia

Watch the full conversation - youtu.be/gQ4QlPme-I8