Geography is destiny. You’ve likely heard that before, but for India, it’s not just a quote—it’s a daily survival manual. For the last decade, everyone in Delhi’s power corridors has been talking about the necklace of diamonds India strategy. It sounds fancy, like something you’d find in a high-end boutique in Mumbai, but it’s actually a cold, hard geopolitical countermove. It’s India’s answer to China’s "String of Pearls."
If you look at a map, China has been busy. They’ve been building ports and military outposts in Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Myanmar, and Djibouti. To the casual observer, it looks like a noose. India saw this coming and decided to fight fire with diamonds. This isn't just about ships or sailors. It’s about building a massive, invisible web of logistics, surveillance, and deep-water access that stretches from the coast of Africa all the way to the edges of the Pacific. It’s aggressive. It’s necessary. And honestly, it’s the only way India stays relevant in its own backyard.
What the Necklace of Diamonds India Actually Looks Like
Forget the jewelry metaphor for a second. We’re talking about access. The necklace is a series of strategic bases and naval agreements that allow the Indian Navy to operate far from home.
Take the Changi Naval Base in Singapore. In 2018, Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed an agreement that basically gives the Indian Navy a logistical pit stop right at the mouth of the Strait of Malacca. If you know anything about global trade, you know that’s the world’s biggest chokepoint. If things go south with China, holding the keys to the Malacca Strait is like holding the remote to your neighbor's TV. You control the signal.
Then there’s Sabang in Indonesia. It sits at the other end of that same strait. India has been working closely with Jakarta to develop a deep-sea port there. It’s not a full-blown military base yet—diplomacy is a slow game—but the intent is clear as day. By securing Sabang and Changi, India effectively puts a double-lock on the gateway to the Indian Ocean.
The Western Flank: Duqm and Beyond
If you head west, the "diamonds" keep appearing. The Port of Duqm in Oman is a massive deal. It’s huge. It’s deep. Most importantly, it’s outside the Persian Gulf, meaning it’s not easily blocked by regional conflicts. India secured access to Duqm for logistics and support, allowing its destroyers to range deep into the Arabian Sea.
Further south, we have the Assumption Island project in the Seychelles. This one has been a bit of a headache. Local politics and environmental concerns slowed things down, but the goal remains: a facility that allows India to keep an eye on the Mozambique Channel. Why does that matter? Because as the Arctic melts and trade routes shift, the Cape route is becoming a big deal again.
Chanakya’s Ghost in Modern Diplomacy
India doesn’t just build ports; it builds relationships. This is the "soft" part of the necklace of diamonds India strategy. You see it in the ACT East Policy. India is courting Vietnam like a long-lost sibling. They’ve sold them BrahMos missiles—some of the fastest cruise missiles on the planet—and provided credit lines for patrol boats.
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It’s a bit cheeky, really. China claims the South China Sea as its private lake. India walks in, hands the Vietnamese a bunch of high-tech weapons, and says, "Need a hand?" It’s a classic move straight out of the Arthashastra, the ancient Indian treatise on statecraft. Basically: the enemy of my enemy is my friend.
Mongolia: The Diamond in the North
One of the most surprising parts of this strategy is Mongolia. It’s landlocked. It’s stuck between Russia and China. It’s nowhere near an ocean. So why is it a "diamond"?
Because it’s a strategic listening post. India has been investing heavily in Mongolia, helping build their first oil refinery and strengthening digital connectivity. When Modi visited in 2015, he was the first Indian PM to do so. It wasn't just for the photo ops. By building a "spiritual and strategic" bond with Mongolia, India ensures that China always has to look over its shoulder, even in its own northern backyard.
The Reality of the "String of Pearls" Threat
To understand why India is doing this, you have to look at what China has already achieved. They own the Hambantota Port in Sri Lanka on a 99-year lease. They built Gwadar in Pakistan. They have a military base in Djibouti.
For a long time, India felt surrounded. The String of Pearls wasn't just a theory; it was a physical reality. Indian planners realized that they couldn't just sit in the Bay of Bengal and hope for the best. They had to push out. They had to create their own encirclement.
But there’s a massive difference between the two strategies. China uses "debt-trap diplomacy"—they lend billions for projects that countries can't afford, then take over the assets when the debt fails. India can't compete with that kind of cash. Instead, India relies on "security provider" status. They offer training, hydrographic surveys, and disaster relief. It’s less "we own your port" and more "we’re the guys you call when things get messy."
Is the Necklace Falling Apart or Holding Tight?
It’s not all sunshine and roses. The necklace has some cracked stones. Take the Maldives. For years, it was a solid Indian ally. Then a pro-China government came in, told Indian troops to leave, and started signing deals with Beijing. Then the government changed again. Now it's a constant tug-of-war.
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The same thing happened in Seychelles. India’s plans for a base on Assumption Island hit a wall when the opposition there cried "sovereignty." This is the problem with being a democracy dealing with other democracies—people get to vote, and sometimes they vote against your interests. China doesn't usually have that problem because they deal with authoritarian regimes or just buy whoever is in power.
The Chabahar Factor
Then there’s Iran. The Chabahar Port is India’s golden ticket to Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan entirely. It’s a crucial diamond, but it’s been a nightmare to manage because of US sanctions on Iran. India has to walk a tightrope: keep the Americans happy while keeping the port running.
Honestly, it’s a miracle it’s still moving forward. But it is. India recently signed a 10-year contract to operate the terminal. This isn't just about trade; it's about making sure India has a land route to Afghanistan and Russia that doesn't rely on unfriendly neighbors.
Naval Expansion: The Muscle Behind the Strategy
A port is just a dock if you don't have ships to put in it. The necklace of diamonds India strategy is being backed by a massive naval buildup. We're talking about the INS Vikrant, India's first indigenous aircraft carrier. We're talking about the Arihant-class nuclear submarines.
India wants a 175-ship navy by 2035. Currently, they have about 150. They are focusing heavily on "Sea Denial" in the Bay of Bengal and "Sea Control" in the Arabian Sea.
- P-8I Poseidon Aircraft: These are "submarine hunters" bought from the US. They fly out of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and can see everything moving underwater in the eastern Indian Ocean.
- Agalega Island: India is building a massive airstrip in Mauritius (on Agalega). It’s officially for "maritime security," but everyone knows it’s a staging ground for long-range patrols.
- The Quad: This isn't a base, but it's a force multiplier. By teaming up with the US, Japan, and Australia, India ensures that China can't just bully its way through the Indo-Pacific.
Misconceptions: What People Get Wrong
People often think this is about starting a war. It isn't. It’s about deterrence. If China knows that India can block their oil tankers at the Malacca Strait or track their submarines from the Seychelles, they are much less likely to start trouble on the Himalayan border.
Another mistake? Thinking this is all about the military. A huge part of the necklace is about Digital Connectivity. India is laying undersea cables and building satellite tracking stations in places like Vietnam and Indonesia. In the modern world, controlling the flow of data is just as important as controlling the flow of oil.
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Why This Matters to You
You might think, "I'm just a guy in Bangalore (or London, or New York), why do I care about a port in Oman?"
Because of your phone. And your car. And your electricity bill.
The Indian Ocean carries 80% of the world’s seaborne oil and 33% of its bulk cargo. If the necklace of diamonds fails and one power gets total control over these waters, global prices won't just rise—they’ll explode. India’s strategy keeps the ocean "Free and Open," which is diplomatic speak for "nobody gets to bully anyone else's cargo ships."
The Roadmap Ahead: How India Secures the Diamond
New Delhi can't afford to be complacent. The strategy needs to evolve.
- Double down on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This is India's "unsinkable aircraft carrier." It sits right at the mouth of the Malacca Strait. It needs more than just a few runways; it needs to become a full-scale military hub capable of hosting allied navies.
- Fix the "Neighborhood First" policy. India sometimes treats its smaller neighbors like annoying younger siblings. That’s a mistake. If India doesn't treat Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka with genuine respect and economic partnership, they will keep drifting toward Beijing’s checkbook.
- Speed up the paperwork. India is famous for "Project Delay." China can build a port in three years; India takes ten. To make the necklace of diamonds work, the Indian bureaucracy needs to move at the speed of a startup.
- Leverage the Diaspora. There are millions of Indians in Oman, Singapore, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. They are a massive "soft power" asset that India hasn't fully utilized yet.
The necklace of diamonds India isn't just a clever name. It’s a high-stakes game of geopolitical chess. It’s about making sure that the Indian Ocean remains Indian—not in the sense of ownership, but in the sense of influence. India is no longer content being a regional power. It’s reaching out, anchoring itself to distant shores, and making sure the world knows that the dragon won't be the only one breathing fire in the 21st century.
If you're watching this space, keep your eyes on the IMEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor). It’s the next logical step in this chain, linking India to Europe through the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel. It’s the ultimate diamond, and it’s currently being cut.
To stay informed, look past the headlines of border skirmishes. The real battle is happening at sea, one port and one "diamond" at a time. Pay attention to the naval exercises like Malabar and Milan—they are the dress rehearsals for the strategy in action. Keep an eye on the "Maritime Domain Awareness" centers India is setting up; they are the eyes of the necklace. The geography hasn't changed, but India's willingness to dominate it certainly has.