In a landmark move aimed at reshaping maritime cooperation between India and the African continent, the Indian Navy will co-host its first-ever multilateral maritime exercise with African nations this April. Titled Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) — meaning unity in Sanskrit — the six-day exercise will take place off the coast of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, from 13–18 April 2025.
Co-hosted with the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF), AIKEYME marks a new era of India-Africa defence cooperation, directly supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s broader foreign policy doctrine, MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), announced during his recent visit to Mauritius.
Ten African Nations Join the Historic Drill
Participating nations include:
Comoros
Djibouti
Eritrea
Kenya
Madagascar
Mauritius
Mozambique
Seychelles
South Africa
Tanzania (co-host)
The drill will be inaugurated by India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and will include both harbour and sea phases focused on real-world threats and operational readiness.
Strategic Purpose of AIKEYME
India’s Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff, described AIKEYME as a “visionary initiative to enhance interoperability with African navies and maritime agencies,” noting that the exercise will address shared threats such as:
Piracy
Illegal trafficking
Unregulated and unreported fishing
Maritime terrorism
This exercise, Sobti said, will reinforce India’s role as a trusted maritime security partner and first responder in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), particularly as China deepens its military and economic presence in African and IOR waters.
Exercise Structure: Unity in Action
Harbour Phase
Table-top and command-post exercises
Training in seamanship
Information-sharing on piracy
Visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) drills
Sea Phase
Search and rescue operations
Helicopter operations
Live small arms firing
Seamanship evolutions and VBSS simulations
Participants from all ten African countries will actively engage in both strategic planning and field operations.
Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar: A Sister Initiative
In tandem with AIKEYME, India will also launch IOS Sagar, deploying INS Sunayna, an offshore patrol vessel, with a joint crew of Indian sailors and personnel from nine partner nations. The initiative will run from 5 April to 8 May, visiting ports in:
Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)
Nacala (Mozambique)
Port Louis (Mauritius)
Port Victoria (Seychelles)
Malé (Maldives)
The ship will conduct joint EEZ surveillance missions and will host African crew members trained at Indian naval academies in Kochi. These sailors will also observe the AIKEYME harbour phase, creating a seamless link between both initiatives.
Geopolitical Context: Responding to Regional Shifts
India’s enhanced outreach to African nations comes as China expands its strategic footprint across the continent, including building or operating at least 78 ports across 32 countries, according to the Africa Center for Strategic Studies. With Djibouti hosting China’s first overseas military base, India’s initiatives signal a decisive response — strengthening regional alliances through trust-based cooperation, rather than transactional diplomacy.
India has previously conducted the Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX) with 17 African nations and maintains regular engagement through the India-Africa Defence Ministers Conclave.
Strengthening Africa-India Maritime Solidarity
The AIKEYME exercise and IOS Sagar deployment form the cornerstone of India’s Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) policy, which marks its 10th anniversary in 2025. Together, these initiatives underscore India’s commitment to inclusive, sovereign-led cooperation, supporting Africa’s maritime aspirations and regional stability.
“With AIKEYME, we are not just strengthening naval ties — we are anchoring a new future of South-South maritime solidarity,” said a senior Indian naval official.
As threats evolve and global power dynamics shift, India’s proactive collaboration with African nations positions it not only as a preferred maritime partner, but also as a Pan-African ally for peace, development, and sovereignty in the seas.
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