India and 10 African countries will hold their inaugural joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean in mid-April, marking a significant step in military cooperation aimed at boosting maritime security and countering China’s growing influence in the region.

The six-day drill, named the Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME), will be co-hosted by the Indian Navy and the Tanzania People’s Defense Force (TPDF), and is expected to become a biennial event.

The exercise will take place off the coast of Dar es Salaam and will involve naval forces from Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa. India’s Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh, is set to inaugurate the event.

The joint exercise will be divided into two phases: a harbor phase and a sea phase. The harbor phase will focus on tabletop discussions, command post exercises, and training in seamanship and boarding operations. The sea phase will include anti-piracy operations, search and rescue missions, helicopter drills, and small arms training.

In a related initiative, India will also launch the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar mission, which involves the offshore patrol vessel INS Sunayna. From April 15 to May 8, the ship will be crewed by Indian sailors and 44 naval personnel from nine partner countries, conducting surveillance missions in the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of participating nations. The ship will visit ports in Dar es Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria, and Male.

TPDF spokesperson Col. Gaudentius Ilonda expressed pride in Tanzania’s role in the initiative, noting that the joint exercise highlights the country's commitment to regional security cooperation. "By hosting AIKEYME, Tanzania is cementing its role as a key player in Indian Ocean maritime security," he said.

The exercise aligns with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, which promotes regional cooperation to address shared threats such as piracy, terrorism, and illegal fishing.

India has ramped up defense diplomacy with African nations in recent years, focusing on capacity-building, joint training, and military technology sharing. The country has also established coastal surveillance radar stations in Seychelles, Mauritius, and the Maldives, further solidifying its strategy to secure critical maritime routes.

Experts view India’s growing naval cooperation with African nations as a response to the increasing geopolitical competition in the Indian Ocean, positioning India as a reliable security partner and enhancing its influence across Africa's maritime frontiers.

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