Context:
India is set to host a landmark naval exercise named ‘Aikeyme’ Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement with 10 African countries, marking a significant step in strengthening its maritime and defense ties with the African continent. This comes amid increasing Chinese strategic inroads and ongoing maritime threats in the region.
Key Details of Exercise Aikeyme
- Dates: April 13 to 18, 2025
- Location: Off Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
- Co-host: Tanzania
- Participating Countries:
- Tanzania
- Comoros
- Djibouti
- Eritrea
- Kenya
- Madagascar
- Mauritius
- Mozambique
- Seychelles
- South Africa
- Inauguration: By India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar Initiative
- Launch Date: April 5, 2025
- Deployment Period: April 5 to May 8, 2025
- Vessel: INS Sunayna (Offshore Patrol Vessel)
- Crew Composition: Indian sailors + 44 personnel from nine ‘friendly foreign countries’
- Mission Area: South-West Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
- Objective: Promote ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and ‘Mahasagar’ (Mutual & Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions)
Strategic Importance
- China’s presence in Africa has grown rapidly, leading India to deepen maritime ties.
- Continued surveillance of Somali pirates and Houthi rebels.
- An Indian warship is permanently stationed in the Gulf of Aden to counter piracy, with readiness to deploy more if required.
The Aikeyme naval exercise and the IOS Sagar initiative reinforce India’s commitment to:
- Maritime collaboration with African and IOR nations
- Combating maritime threats
- Establishing itself as a key maritime power and security partner in the region
TOI
