Dhaka, Jan. 11 -- India has moved to strengthen its maritime posture in the northern Bay of Bengal by setting up a new naval base in West Bengal, amid rising Chinese naval activity and shifting regional security dynamics involving Bangladesh and Pakistan.

India Today reported, citing top defence sources, that the Indian Navy will operate the facility as a naval "detachment", primarily focused on deploying small warships for rapid-response operations.

The base will make use of the existing Haldia dock complex, allowing the Navy to operationalise the facility quickly with minimal additional infrastructure, the New Delhi-based weekly said.

Initial work will include the construction of a dedicated jetty and shore-support facilities, it add...