Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025 Inauguration

IN NEWS – Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025 Inauguration

Analysis

• The Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025 was inaugurated on 13 April 2025 at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, marking a major milestone in maritime cooperation between India and African nations.
• The event was attended by Dr. Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Minister of Defence and National Service of Tanzania, Shri Sanjay Seth, India’s Raksha Rajya Mantri (RRM), and Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff.
• Senior military dignitaries, including the Chief of Defence Force of the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF), were also present.

Key Highlights

• Tanzania’s Defence Minister, in her address, highlighted the importance of collective maritime security efforts to combat threats such as piracy and trafficking, calling for collaborative regional frameworks for innovation and information sharing.
• RRM Sanjay Seth invoked the proverb “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together,” underscoring the spirit of long-term cooperation between India and Africa.
• He referenced India’s maritime vision MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) and expressed gratitude to Tanzania for co-hosting AIKEYME 2025.
• The Indian Navy was represented by INS Chennai and INS Kesari, while the Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR was present during the inaugural ceremony.

Exercise Overview

• The exercise, named AIKEYME, meaning “Unity” in Sanskrit, will be conducted over six days.
• Participating nations include Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, India, and Tanzania.
• The event comprises:
  • A harbour phase focusing on joint training and information-sharing on counter-piracy and maritime operations.
  • A sea phase aimed at improving interoperability and cooperative security operations.
• The initiative seeks to enhance regional maritime security, promote mutual trust, and strengthen India-Africa maritime partnerships.

Static / Background Information

• AIKEYME (Africa India Key Maritime Engagement):
  • A newly instituted platform aimed at strengthening India-Africa maritime cooperation.
  • Focuses on addressing non-traditional maritime security challenges such as piracy, trafficking, illegal fishing, and maritime terrorism.
  • Promotes capacity building, information sharing, and joint operational training between India and African littoral states.
• MAHASAGAR Vision:
  • Stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.
  • Envisions a secure, open, and stable Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region through collaborative maritime partnerships.
• Significance for India and Africa:
  • Reinforces India’s maritime outreach in the Western Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
  • Strengthens defence diplomacy and South-South cooperation.
  • Supports regional goals of Blue Economy and SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).

Updated – 13 Apr 2025 ; 10:10 PM | PIB