Indian Navy Engages in Multinational Maritime Exercise with African Nations
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Synopsis
The Indian Navy is engaging in a significant multilateral maritime exercise named AIKEYME with several African nations to enhance naval interoperability and tackle maritime security threats. The exercise will take place in Tanzania, featuring participation from eight countries, including joint drills and training initiatives.
Key Takeaways
- Indian Navy's participation in AIKEYME with African nations.
- Focus on enhancing interoperability among navies.
- Exercise co-hosted by India and Tanzania.
- Includes eight participating nations.
- Multinational efforts to combat piracy and illegal activities.
New Delhi, March 24 (NationPress) The Indian Navy is set to take part in a significant multilateral maritime training exercise with African nations, named 'Africa India Key Maritime Engagement', or AIKEYME. This term translates to ‘Unity’ in Sanskrit, and aims to foster improved interoperability among naval and maritime entities.
The inaugural edition of this exercise is collaboratively hosted by the Indian Navy and the Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF), scheduled to take place in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, and is set to be inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in mid-April 2025.
The event will span six days and will see participation from eight nations, including Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa, alongside the co-hosts.
The Harbour Phase will feature tabletop discussions and command post drills focused on piracy and information sharing, as well as training on seamanship and VBSS (Visit, Board, Search and Seizure).
Meanwhile, the Sea Phase will encompass seamanship evolution, search and rescue operations, small arms firing, helicopter operations, and more, according to officials.
The Indian Navy emphasizes the shared value placed on maritime security by both India and Africa, reaffirming their commitment to enhance collaboration in addressing maritime threats such as piracy and illegal activities, including trafficking and unregulated fishing through information sharing and surveillance.
This multilateral maritime engagement exercise with African nations underscores the Indian Navy's dedication to maritime security.
Over the past decade, the Indian Navy has strengthened its alliances with maritime agencies across the Indian Ocean Region to bolster maritime security, aligning with the Government of India's vision of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).
Collaborative efforts by the Indian Navy with the navies of IOR countries include joint naval exercises, coordinated patrols, information sharing, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR), capacity building, and various diplomatic activities. With SAGAR entering its second decade and the announcement of the Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions (MAHASAGAR) initiative by the Prime Minister during his visit to Mauritius in March 2025, the Indian Navy is launching its inaugural initiatives of IOS Sagar and AIKEYME, aimed at reinforcing the Indian Navy's role as the ‘Preferred Security Partner’ and initial responder in the Indian Ocean Region.
Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar represents a commitment to ongoing cooperation with IOR nations.
One naval vessel, INS Sunayna, is being deployed to the southwestern IOR with a combined crew from India and nine FFC nations (Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa).
This ship is expected to operate for over a month in April 2025, making port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria, and Male, while also engaging in joint surveillance of the EEZs of Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles, officials noted. The personnel from FFC nations will undergo a two-week training course at various naval professional schools in Kochi, including at-sea training.
The FFC personnel will participate in whole-ship activities, watchkeeping, and other tasks related to their respective branches or trades. Participants of IOS Sagar are also scheduled to observe the harbour phase activities of Exercise AIKEYME at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
