India has achieved a significant strategic victory by acquiring the operational rights to a terminal at Bangladesh’s Mongla port, a move that has major consequences for the regional dynamics, mainly for China.

This development is seen as a key part of New Delhi’s broader strategy to counter Beijing’s increasing footprint in the Indian Ocean and to get a foothold over strategically important international ports.

The specifics of the agreement about Mongla port which is Bangladesh’s second-largest seaport remain undisclosed. However, media reports indicate that the terminal will be operated by Indian Port Global Limited (IPGL), according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP). This achievement marks India’s third successful deal to manage overseas in recent years, followed by Chabahar in Iran and Sittwe in Myanmar.

C Uday Bhaskar, a former Indian naval officer and director of the Delhi-based Society for Policy Studies think tank, informed SCMP, “Mongla is a potentially major opportunity for India to establish its credibility as an equitable port partner for Indian Ocean littorals seeking such expertise.”

He highlighted that India, despite being relatively new to the global port management scene, has begun to invest significantly in this sector.

China has been actively expanding its influence across the Indian Ocean as part of its Maritime Silk Road initiative, investing in ports from Gwadar in Pakistan to Djibouti in East Africa. Beijing’s investments include US$78 million in Djibouti and US$1.6 billion in Gwadar.

Image source: AFP