New Delhi, Aug 20 - In a bid to enlarge India's footprint in the Indian Ocean region and counter China's influence, Defence Minister A.K. Antony Thursday began his three-day visit to the island nation of Maldives, where a pact for greater defence cooperation between the two sides is expected to be signed.

According to defence ministry sources, the island nation has sought greater defence cooperation with India in terms of coastal security and patrolling of the waters around it.

Shortly after his arrival at the Maldivian capital of Male, Antony called on President Mohammed Nasheed, a defence official said, adding that he will also hold talks with the top leadership of the government and the Maldives National Defence Force.

Antony will hold bilateral discussions with his Maldivian counterpart Ameen Faisal on ways to expand defence cooperation between the two countries, he added.

The Maldives in the Indian Ocean is strategically important to India.

Three factors make the Maldives attractive to Indian security interests.

Firstly, with its proximity to the Indian island cluster of Lakshadweep, the Maldives has increased importance for the coastal security, in light of the 26/11 terrorist attacks on Mumbai.

The second factor is that the country comprising more than 1,100 islets can offer India logistics support and perhaps even a base of operations and hence extend the Indian naval footprint.

The third is that the Maldives, by offering its facilities, can extend the Indian maritime airspace surveillance capability.

For India, the Indian Ocean region from Australia to Africa has become strategically important with China also striving to increase its presence.