India is set to conduct its first significant naval exercise named 'Aikeyme' with ten African nations, marking a notable step in strengthening its maritime ties in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
Additionally, the Indian Navy will launch the 'Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar' initiative next month, aiming to bolster maritime security and reinforce India's role as a preferred security partner in the region.
The 'Aikeyme' exercise is a significant component of India's ongoing military outreach to Africa, particularly as China's influence grows in the continent. The initiative also reflects India's vigilance towards the potential threats posed by Somali pirates and Houthi rebels in the region.
The exercise will take place off the coast of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, from April 13 to 18, 2025. The countries participating in the exercise include Tanzania, the Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa.
Tanzania, as the co-host, will join India in inaugurating the exercise, which will be officially opened by India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
'Aikeyme', which stands for 'Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement,' will focus on a range of maritime activities. These include visit, board, search, and seizure (VBSS) drills, arms firing, helicopter operations, seamanship evolutions, and search and rescue missions.
Additionally, table-top and command post exercises will address anti-piracy operations and information sharing. The aim is to make 'Aikeyme' a biennial event, expanding its reach to include West African nations in future editions.
Complementing the 'Aikeyme' exercise, the 'Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar' initiative will see a combined crew of Indian sailors and 44 personnel from nine other nations aboard the offshore patrol vessel INS Sunayna.
The participating countries include Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, the Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa. This collaborative crew has been undergoing training in Kochi to prepare for the mission, which will run from April 5 to May 8, 2025.
During the mission, the INS Sunayna will make port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria, and Male. Additionally, the warship will conduct joint surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles.
These efforts aim to enhance regional cooperation, strengthen maritime domain awareness, and counter threats like piracy, drug trafficking, and illegal activities through information sharing and surveillance.
Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of the Indian Navy, highlighted India's commitment to securing the Indian Ocean under the government's vision of 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
He noted that the new 'Mahasagar' initiative, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to Mauritius in March, aims to consolidate India's status as a 'preferred security partner' and the 'first responder' in the IOR.
While the frequency of attacks by Somali pirates and Houthi rebels has decreased since December, an Indian warship remains stationed in the Gulf of Aden to monitor any resurgence of piracy. If necessary, additional naval assets will be deployed to maintain maritime security in the region.
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