The joint exercise will involve the naval forces of Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa.
India and ten African countries will conduct their first joint naval exercise in April in the Indian Ocean, marking a significant expansion of their military cooperation aimed at strengthening maritime security and countering China’s growing influence in the region.
This six-day exercise, named Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME), will be co-hosted by the Indian Navy and the Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF).
It is scheduled to begin in mid-April off the coast of Dar es Salaam and is expected to become a biennial event, according to officials.
The first edition will include the naval forces of Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa. Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to inaugurate the event.
Anti-piracy operations
The joint exercise will take place in two phases: a port phase and a sea phase. According to India’s Ministry of Defence, the port phase will focus on theoretical discussions, command post exercises, and training in seamanship and boarding operations, while the sea phase will include anti-piracy operations, search and rescue missions, helicopter drills, and light weapons handling training.
In a related initiative, India will also launch the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar, a groundbreaking joint mission involving the offshore patrol vessel INS Sunayna. From April 15 to May 8, the ship will be manned by an Indian crew and 44 naval personnel from nine partner countries, conducting surveillance missions in the exclusive economic zones (EEZ) of the participating nations. The ship will dock at the ports of Dar es Salaam, Nacala, Port-Louis, Port Victoria, and Malé.
Strengthening cooperation
TPDF spokesman Colonel Gaudentius Ilonda praised this initiative, stating that the joint exercise reflects Tanzania’s commitment to enhancing regional security cooperation.
“This is a historic development. By hosting AIKEYME, Tanzania consolidates its role as a key player in maritime security in the Indian Ocean,” Ilonda said to Anadolu. “We are proud to partner with India to enhance regional naval capabilities to counter common threats such as piracy and smuggling.”
This initiative is part of India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, which advocates for regional cooperation to address common threats such as piracy, terrorism, and illegal fishing.
In recent years, India has stepped up its defense diplomacy with Africa, focusing on capacity-building, joint training, and military technology sharing. In 2019, New Delhi hosted the Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX) in Pune, involving troops from 17 African nations.
Beijing’s presence
India has also set up coastal radar surveillance stations in the Seychelles, Mauritius, and the Maldives, reflecting its long-term strategy to secure critical maritime routes and challenge Beijing’s presence in the region.
Defense analysts believe that India’s growing naval cooperation with African countries comes at a time when the Indian Ocean region is becoming a theater for geopolitical competition. The AIKEYME and IOS Sagar initiatives signal New Delhi’s intent to position itself as a reliable security partner while strengthening its influence over Africa’s maritime borders.
source: trt.global
