Successful Austrian colony on Nicobar islands

yourworstnightmare

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In 1778 Austria claims the Indian Ocean territory of Nicobar islands as its own. It failed miserably and was abandoned soon after.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_colonization_of_Nicobar_Islands

What can we reasonably do in ATL to make this a successful colony to the point where it must stand against Allied attack (and likely fail) in 1914?

Wasn't one reason the Austrian attempt failed because Denmark also claimed the islands?

Another problems with several colonization attempts was malaria. It forced settlers off the islands at several instances.
 
The most plausible way to make it happen is if Karl von Scherzer proposal to colonise it is acted on in 1858. The question is, Why? What can the Austrian Empire get from the islands. A penal colony might work, and the islands could be used to grow crops such as Cocoa and Rubber. The islands did belong to Denmark, but presuming a Austrian Settlement in 1860, Denmark's paper claim could be transferred after the Prussian-Danish war. I would presume that such a colony would have little effect on History and would get captured in 1914 by the royal navy.
 
The Novara Expedition? The Nicobars were surveyed as a possible coaling Station for the China trade, in preparation for the increased volume of trade after construction of the Suez channel.
 
I think it might have worked had the Austrian Empire had had OTHER colonies as way stations between Vienna and these islands because minimally they'd have had to either sail all the way from Antwerp past France, Spain, Portugal then go around the ENTIRE continent of Africa before finally reaching these islands. Even Portugal had colonies in Africa as way stations between the mother country and its Asian possessions. Now where Austria could have set up port cities in Africa so late in the game is another question.
 
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