Indian Navy News – The first edition of the Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025, a landmark multilateral exercise symbolizing ‘Unity’ in Sanskrit, is set to take place from April 13 to 18, 2025, co-hosted by India and Tanzania.
This six-day initiative will bring together naval forces from Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, and the co-hosts, aligning with India’s vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR), championed by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
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| Representative Image – AIKEYME 2025 |
Key Highlights of Africa India Key Maritime Engagement 2025
- Multilateral Maritime Exercise: The inaugural Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025, meaning ‘Unity’ in Sanskrit, will unite India, Tanzania, and eight African nations from April 13–18, 2025, to enhance regional maritime security.
- Harbor And Sea Phases: The exercise includes a harbor phase with joint training, anti-piracy exercises, and public ship visits in Dar-es-Salaam, followed by a sea phase focusing on collaborative maritime operations.
- Strategic Alignment: AIKEYME reflects India’s MAHASAGAR vision, fostering mutual security and growth through interoperability and camaraderie among participating nations’ maritime forces.
Inaugural Africa India Key Maritime Engagement 2025 conducted in Dar-es-Salaam
Indian Naval Ships INS Chennai (destroyer) and INS Kesari [Landing Ship Tank (Large)] arrived in Dar-es-Salaam on April 10 and 11, 2025, respectively, welcomed by Tanzania’s Defence Attaché and a liaison team.
The exercise’s inauguration ceremony, to be held onboard, will feature a Ceremonial Guard and performances by the Indian Navy and Tanzanian People’s Defence Force (TPDF) bands, playing the national anthems of participating nations in unison.
INS Sunayna, deployed as the Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR from Karwar on April 5, 2025, will also participate.
The harbor phase, hosted in Dar-es-Salaam, will feature an inauguration ceremony and a deck reception attended by India’s Minister of State for Defence, Shri Sanjay Seth, and Tanzania’s Defence Minister as Chief Guests.
Planned activities include Table Top and Command Post Exercises focusing on
- anti-piracy operations and
- information sharing,
- joint seamanship training, and
- Visit,
- Board,
- Search, and
- Seizure (VBSS) drills with the TPDF.
To foster camaraderie, sports events and yoga sessions are scheduled, while the Indian Naval ships will open to the public to engage local communities.
The sea phase, from April 16 to 18, 2025, will emphasize collaborative maritime security operations, enhancing interoperability among the participating nations’ naval forces.
AIKEYME aims to address shared regional maritime challenges, promote synergistic operations, and strengthen the bonds between India and African nations, reinforcing India’s role as a key maritime partner in the region.
Summary
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Duration | April 13–18, 2025 (6 days) |
| Participating Nations | India, Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa |
| Location | Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania |
| Indian Naval Ships | INS Chennai (destroyer), INS Kesari (LST-L), INS Sunayna (SAGAR) |
| Harbor Phase Activities | Inauguration ceremony, deck reception, Table Top/Command Post Exercises (anti-piracy, info sharing), seamanship training, VBSS drills, sports, yoga, public ship visits |
| Sea Phase Focus | Maritime security cooperation, joint operations (April 16–18, 2025) |
| Key Dignitaries | Shri Sanjay Seth (MoS Defence, India), Defence Minister (Tanzania) |
| Strategic Objective | Enhance interoperability, address regional maritime challenges, align with MAHASAGAR vision |
| Cultural Highlights | Ceremonial Guard, joint band performance of national anthems |
SOURCE : Press Information Bureau (GOI)