India-Africa Maritime Exercise: A New Era of Partnership

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Inaugural Maritime Exercise enhances India-Africa ties.
- Participation from nine African nations.
- Focus on maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Defence expo showcases defence products from India and Africa.
- Strengthening bilateral cooperation in defence, health, and education.
New Delhi, April 17 (NationPress) On Thursday, India announced that the inaugural India-Africa Multinational Maritime Exercise, co-hosted by India and Tanzania off the coast of Africa, signifies a crucial step in enhancing ties between India and the African nations.
This exercise, which includes participation from nine countries - namely Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa - will conclude on April 18. It positions both India and the African nations as pivotal players in ensuring the security of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and aligns with India's maritime Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR) vision, stated the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
During a weekly media briefing in New Delhi, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted, “Our Minister of State for Defence recently visited Tanzania for the first edition of this exercise. It was a historic event that involved nine countries off the African coast, marking a vital milestone in India-Tanzania relations and our wider engagement with Africa.”
Additionally, a defence expo titled Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025 is being conducted alongside the exercise, showcasing defence products from participating nations, including India.
The expo was inaugurated on April 13 in Dar-es-Salaam, attended by Tanzania's Minister of Defence Stergomena Lawrence Tax, India's Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, and other distinguished military leaders, including the Chief of Defence Force of the Tanzania Peoples' Defence Force (TPDF).
While in Tanzania, Seth met with Vice-President Philip Isdor Mpango and Minister Tax on April 14, discussing cooperation on maritime engagements, the ongoing defence expo, and India's commitment to meet Tanzania’s defence needs. They also addressed areas of development partnership, cultural ties, and cooperation in health and education.
The AIKEYME 25, which translates to 'Unity' in Sanskrit, is a six-day event featuring a harbour phase with joint training focused on piracy and information sharing, followed by a sea phase aimed at enhancing maritime security cooperation.
This initiative seeks to foster collaborative solutions to regional maritime challenges, improve interoperability, and fortify friendly relations between India and African nations.