A New Chapter in Maritime Diplomacy
The Indian Navy marked a significant milestone in regional security cooperation with the launch of AIKEYME, a large-scale naval exercise involving multiple African nations and India, which began on April 13 and will run until April 18. The exercise is being held off the coast of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, a strategic maritime location on the Indian Ocean.
The participating countries include Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, and the co-hosts India and Tanzania. These nations share common maritime interests, especially in combating piracy, securing sea lanes, conducting humanitarian assistance, and improving disaster response coordination.
A Vision Anchored in Regional Unity
The AIKEYME initiative is aligned with India’s evolving Indian Ocean strategy, particularly Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s MAHASAGAR vision — an Indian-led framework focusing on holistic and inclusive maritime security cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Through such efforts, India seeks to emerge as a net security provider and trusted maritime partner for smaller Indian Ocean littorals and island nations.
According to the Indian Navy, the exercise aims to:
-
Enhance interoperability and coordination among the navies.
-
Develop collaborative solutions to shared maritime challenges.
-
Promote friendship, trust, and cooperation between India and African countries.
Key Assets and Participation
The Indian Navy has deployed major surface platforms for the exercise:
-
INS Chennai, a Kolkata-class stealth-guided missile destroyer, known for its advanced weapon systems and long-range capabilities.
-
INS Kesari, a Landing Ship Tank (Large), capable of amphibious operations and carrying troops, tanks, and disaster relief material.
-
INS Sunayna, an offshore patrol vessel operating under the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) SAGAR initiative, brought together 44 naval personnel from nine friendly nations, further underlining the multilateral commitment.
The inauguration ceremony was co-hosted onboard the Indian ships by the Indian Navy and the Tanzanian Peoples’ Defence Force (TPDF). The symbolic gesture reaffirmed the joint ownership and mutual trust between India and its African partners.
India’s Maritime Footprint in Africa
This exercise underscores India’s growing maritime engagement with Africa, particularly East African nations that lie along crucial sea lines of communication (SLOCs) in the Western Indian Ocean. India has consistently invested in capacity building, training programs, and naval diplomacy with African navies — including port calls, defence exchanges, and supply of defence equipment.
AIKEYME builds upon such earlier initiatives like the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) and the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, emphasizing inclusive maritime security architecture.
Way Forward
As threats such as maritime piracy, illegal fishing, trafficking, and climate-induced disasters continue to impact coastal and island nations in the IOR, AIKEYME represents a timely and vital effort to build a regional security consensus. It fosters interoperability, strengthens strategic trust, and projects India’s commitment to a peaceful, stable, and cooperative Indian Ocean Region.
Moreover, this exercise is not just about strategic alignment but also about solidarity and shared growth, cementing India-Africa relations on the strong foundation of oceanic cooperation.
