Should India lease Yemen's Socotra island to make a naval base?

[Waffen SS]

Socotra is an island situated in Arabian sea. It is part of Republic Of Yemen and it is administrative part of Hadharamut Governorate, Yemen has many Governorates and it is one of them.

Socotra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An over view of this island.

Map of Socotra island.

Position of Yemen and Socotra island.

Arabian sea.

So it is clear that if we lease this island then we can have several adavantage

1) We can take a look in all over Arabian sea.

2) we can have advantage in war against Piracy in Gulf Of Aden.

3) In future in case of possible Indian Military intervention in West Asia Socotra can be used as base.

4) We can have eye always about Pakistani Navy's activity.

5) Our strength in Indian Ocean would be bolstered.

So should we lease that island?

Please comment and vote.

 

[kseeker]

Good idea !

And I endorse all your points mentioned above.

We have a friendly relationship with Yemen. However, will Yemen oblige to our request in this regard ?

India - Yemen foreign relationship | Wikipedia

 

[bhramos]

Yes definatly sure... Naval Air base would be best...

 

[Ray]

Is Yemen leasing the island?

One could speculate if Yemen is leasing the island.

Or else it is kiteflying and wishful thinking.

 

[debasree]

Do we have enougg assets to base and do they oblige but gd idea

 

[Illusive]

We are buliding a blue water capability, we are not yet there and besides that region has the highest pirate attacks, that means our list of enemies will only increase.

I am all for the base provided we have the political will and capability to deal with these threats and right now its non existent. Besides Yemen just wont lease us the base like that, we'll have to be their biggest partner.

We have a long way to go before we have a base in foreign country.

 

[Tolaha]

India should not lease Socotra, but rather try buying it. That is, if it is available! Socotra and the tiny strip of Myanmar land (Arakan) connecting our North East India to the Bay of Bengal are two pieces of real estate that would do us a lot of good if it is in our possession.

Ofcourse, we do have one more, our connection to Central Asia, but getting our hands on that is even more tougher than these 2, so some other time maybe!

 

[Ray]

India has not been able to capitalise on Seychelles, Maldives, Mauratius or Sri Lanka when there was the opportunity to do so, therefore, it is not understood how come Yemen is to lease Socotra to India?

Or have I missed the news report that Yemen is leasing the Island?

In so far as Myanmar is concerned, we (Nehru) have gifted away the Coco Island to Myanmar and now it is a strategic threat!

If one is kiteflying, then why stop at Socotra?

Let us scout around the world and let our imagination run wild!

 

[Tolaha]

From wiki: Yemen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Yemen is one of the poorest and least developed countries in the Arab World, with a formal 35% employment rate, dwindling natural resources, a young population and increasing population growth. Yemen's economy is weak compared to most countries in the Middle-East, mainly because Yemen has very small oil reserves. Yemen's economy depends heavily on the oil it produces,[87] and its government receives the vast majority of its revenue from oil taxes. But Yemen's oil reserves are expected to be depleted by 2017, possibly bringing on economic collapse.[88] Yemen does have large proven reserves of natural gas.[89] Yemen's first liquified natural gas (LNG) plant began production in October 2009.

Rampant corruption is a prime obstacle to development in the country, limiting local reinvestments and driving away regional and international capital. Foreign investments remain largely concentrated around the nation's hydrocarbon industry.

Bolded #1 says why Yemen might be willing to sell off Socotra. Bolded #2 suggests an appropriate timeline. Bold #3 is just to point out ways to make inroads!

 

[Ray]

From wiki: Yemen - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Bolded #1 says why Yemen might be willing to sell off Socotra. Bolded #2 suggests an appropriate timeline. Bold #3 is just to point out ways to make inroads!

There are many nations which fulfil the bolded parts, but they are not in the run to lease out.

And there are many countries which are doing well and yet are leasing out, like the Seychelles, who are to have a Chinese Naval Base.

It has been widely reported in the press that Seychelles has offered China a base for its ships deployed to the Gulf of Aden

The Proposed PLA Naval Base in Seychelles and India's Options | Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses

 

[Waffen SS]

Is Yemen leasing the island?

One could speculate if Yemen is leasing the island.

Or else it is kiteflying and wishful thinking.

But sir if we say them we will sale them our defense technology such as Arjun, Akash, Nag, Tejas in low cost, and if we offer them we will help in space matters to send Yemeni satellites so that Yemen people can see their TV channels using their own satellite(As I know they had to relay on Foreign Satellites for this, Arabs use Arabsat mainly and AsiaSat) plus presence of Indian navy near Yemeni coast will allow them to reduce their defense budget on Navy so more money for development.

I think our chances of getting permission is high, because India has a good image mainly because we believe in no-first attack policy and our intelligence agency RAW is not involved in assassination, bomb blast or Drug Trafficking like ISI and CIA.

Yemen is poor country and Indian companies can invest there.

Did we really gift away Coco island to Myanmar under Nehru? I cant believe it.:shocked: Is India's territory like a fruit that we snatch it from tree and offer it?

 

[Ray]

I would say go for islands in the Straits of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and you will control the world's oil!

It is a misconception that poor country are easy for the picking!

Yemen is a country that is lawless and wild and no one can control them.

It is now a hotbed of Al Quaida.

Do you feel that the AQ will allow foreign interests to flourish?

 

[Tolaha]

There are many nations which fulfil the bolded parts, but they are not in the run to lease out

Absolutely right.

And there are many countries which are doing well and yet are leasing out, like the Seychelles, who are to have a Chinese Naval Base.

So you too agree that even though it sounds far-fetched currently, its still a possibility? Just speculating on the 'how' and 'why' of it Sir!

I would say go for islands in the Straits of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and you will control the world's oil!

Straits of Hormuz is way too hot to be handled, least of all India!

It is a misconception that poor country are easy for the picking!

I wouldn't put it as "easy picking", and India should not go for one either. How about India going for a "mutually beneficial deal" with Yemen? No, I still do not know what that mutually beneficially deal is, but something on the lines of money, security, infrastructure and trade access.

Yemen is a country that is lawless and wild and no one can control them.

It is now a hotbed of Al Quaida.

Do you feel that the AQ will allow foreign interests to flourish?

See, now we are talking. You have already identified one possible gap that India could utlize. May be we can side with the anti-'Al Qaeda' faction and help them secure Yemen while concurrently trying to strike a "mutually beneficial deal" with them!

 

[Ray]

Anyway, sorry for being a wetblanket.

Just go ahead.

I was merely trying to see the realpolitik of the issue.

A country that cannot take care of Pakistan killing Indian soldiers & civilians or preventing cavalier intrusions by China is hardly in any position to influence the outcome of the seaways that are important to its strategy.

 

[drkrn]

those islands harbours unique flora in the world.any plans of placing a military base will be a threat to native ecology...

they look like alien creatures,completely out of earth.

imo its an irresponsible decision wrt to yemen and india

friends pls go through this briefing

Socotra - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[parijataka]

Idle dreams - when India ceded Kachatheevu, Coco Island and so many bits of land here we are expecting our govt to grow a pair to set up base by leasing foreign land, not gonna happen.

 

[tramp]

In recent times India has not been averse to looking at overseas military bases. For eg., Farkhor Air Base in Tajikistan.

Farkhor Air Base - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

India also spent $70m on redeveloping Ayni air base (Gissar) close to Tajik capital Dushanbe.

Idle dreams - when India ceded Kachatheevu, Coco Island and so many bits of land here we are expecting our govt to grow a pair to set up base by leasing foreign land, not gonna happen.

 

[tramp]

Of course there will be stiff opposition from Pakistan, China and even US (perhaps on Saudi goading) to an Indian base near Yemen. India will have to exhibit the political will to overcome such opposition.

 

[Razor]

I voted "No". At least not now. India should focus in neutralizing the threats in the immediate neighborhood and we need all the assets we currently have for that purpose.

 

[Eastman]

If India had the luxury of leasing a foreign territory for military purpose then she do not need to follow a path of non alignment, I guess.