New Delhi: To consolidate the Navy’s stature as the ‘preferred security partner’ and ‘first responder’ in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), India will conduct its first major naval exercise, AIKEYME (Africa-India key maritime engagement), with 10 African nations next month. This initiative is part of India’s ongoing military outreach to the continent, where China has made significant strategic inroads.
The inaugural edition of AIKEYME will be co-hosted by the Indian Navy and the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) and is scheduled to take place off Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in mid-April 2025. The exercise will be formally inaugurated by India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Spanning 6 days, the exercise will see participation from India, Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa. The initiative aims to become a biennial event.
Additionally, India will launch another first-of-its-kind initiative, Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar, under which a joint crew of Indian sailors and 44 personnel from nine partner countries will man the offshore patrol vessel INS Sunayna. The vessel will be deployed to the southwestern IOR from 15 April to 8 May.
The two major initiatives are designed to deepen India’s strategic and security ties with African countries, marking a new phase in the Indo-African relationship.
This year’s exercise will primarily involve East African countries, with plans to include West African nations in future editions. The exercise will focus on anti-piracy operations, Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) drills, search and rescue missions, and enhanced information-sharing.
Meanwhile, IOS Sagar will see 44 personnel from Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Mauritius, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa embark on INS Sunayna. The vessel will conduct joint surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of several participating nations and make ports of call in Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria, and Malé.
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Exercise format and objectives
According to a statement by the Ministry of Defence, the exercise will be conducted in two phases—harbour and sea.
The harbour phase will feature tabletop discussions, command post exercises focusing on piracy and information-sharing, and training sessions on seamanship and VBSS operations.
The sea phase will include seamanship drills, search and rescue operations, VBSS, small arms training, and helicopter operations, aimed at strengthening practical skills and coordination among the participating nations.
Maritime security in the Indian Ocean
IOS Sagar, a bold new initiative, will see the deployment of the Indian Navy’s ship, INS Sunayna, to the southwest IOR in April 2025. The ship will make ports of call in Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, Seychelles, and the Maldives while conducting joint surveillance missions with nine partner countries, including South Africa and the Comoros.
Beyond strengthening security cooperation, the initiative will offer training opportunities for naval personnel from these nations, further cementing ties across the region.
The inaugural AIKEYME exercise is designed to enhance interoperability between African and Indian naval forces.
This exercise aligns with India’s broader maritime security vision, SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), which emphasises regional cooperation to address shared security challenges, including piracy, trafficking, and illegal fishing.
Expanding defence and maritime partnerships with Africa
A secure maritime environment in the IOR is essential for both India and African nations to safeguard their national interests and support long-term economic development.
According to a 2023 report by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses, a key aspect of this partnership is India’s role in supporting Africa’s security infrastructure, including specialised military training and the establishment of defence academies in countries such as Zimbabwe and Ethiopia.
Meanwhile, over the past decade, India has conducted numerous joint operations with African navies, particularly in anti-piracy missions. India has also strengthened bilateral security ties with Kenya, formalising cooperation through agreements aimed at enhancing the capacity of African naval forces.
The Indian Navy’s ongoing efforts to establish coastal surveillance stations in key African locations—including Seychelles, Mauritius, and the Maldives—underscore India’s long-term commitment to securing critical maritime routes and counterbalancing China’s growing presence in the region.
However, India’s defence cooperation with Africa extends well beyond maritime security.
In 2019, India hosted the Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX) in Pune, with the participation of 17 African nations.
Through initiatives such as the Africa-India Defence Ministers’ Conference, India has emphasised the need for stronger defence partnerships with African nations to address non-traditional threats, including terrorism and transnational crime.
Defence diplomacy and economic growth
India’s defence engagement with Africa is not solely focused on security—it also aligns with broader economic interests.
As one of the world’s leading emerging markets, India is positioning itself as a key defence exporter.
India has already become the 23rd largest arms supplier globally, offering a range of military systems, including surface-to-air missiles, light weapons, and ammunition.
With Africa’s increasing demand for military equipment and technology, India has a unique opportunity to expand its defence exports, fostering industrial growth and job creation on both sides.
India’s defence engagement with Africa has also expanded beyond military training and joint exercises to strategic dialogue through the India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD).
First launched in 2020, IADD seeks to enhance cooperation in maritime security, cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, and capacity-building.
The second edition of this dialogue, held in October 2022, saw the participation of 50 African countries, with a focus on deepening defence ties through joint training and technology-sharing.
Africa’s seas play a crucial role in global trade, with 90 percent of its trade conducted via maritime routes.
The African Maritime Domain (AMD) is therefore a key factor in commercial security, environmental sustainability, and regional development.
(Edited by Radifah Kabir)