India and Africa Launch First-Ever AIKEYME Maritime Exercise to Strengthen Regional Security Cooperation

Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania: In a major step towards bolstering maritime security and regional cooperation, the inaugural edition of the large-scale multilateral exercise Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME), is set to commence from April 13 to 18, 2025. Named after the Sanskrit word for ‘Unity’, AIKEYME will bring together navies from Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa, alongside co-hosts India and Tanzania.

The initiative aligns with the vision of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, under the doctrine of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR). It aims to create a shared platform for addressing regional maritime challenges through collaborative action and joint preparedness.

The Indian Naval ships INS Chennai, a guided missile destroyer, and INS Kesari, a Landing Ship Tank (Large), arrived in Dar-es-Salaam on April 10 and 11 respectively. They were welcomed with ceremonial honours by the Defence Attaché of India in Tanzania, liaison teams, and a ceremonial guard onboard INS Chennai, where the national anthems of India and Tanzania were played by a joint Indian Navy and Tanzanian Peoples’ Defence Force (TPDF) band.

The harbour phase of AIKEYME 25 will begin with a formal inauguration ceremony and a deck reception onboard the Indian ships. The event will be graced by the Hon’ble Minister of State for Defence of India, Shri Sanjay Seth, and the Defence Minister of Tanzania.

Key activities planned during the harbour phase include:

• Table Top and Command Post Exercises focusing on anti-piracy operations and information sharing
• Joint training sessions in seamanship and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) techniques
• Cultural and community outreach events, including sports fixtures and yoga sessions
• Ship visits open to the local population, promoting people-to-people engagement

Following the harbour events, the sea phase from April 16 to 18 will focus on practical drills aimed at enhancing interoperability among participating navies, particularly in the areas of maritime domain awareness, coordinated patrols, and maritime law enforcement operations.

INS Sunayna, operating under the Indian Navy’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) mission, will also join the AIKEYME fleet after departing from Karwar on April 5.

This first edition of AIKEYME marks a landmark in India-Africa defence cooperation and underlines New Delhi’s growing commitment to regional peace, security, and shared prosperity across the Indian Ocean Region. It also reinforces the Indian Navy’s role as a key facilitator in fostering multilateral naval diplomacy.