Admiral Dinesh Kumar Tripathi, the Chief of Naval Staff, has praised the Indian Navy’s involvement in the first AIKEYME (Africa India Key Maritime Engagement) exercise as a major milestone. Speaking on April 13 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Admiral Tripathi said he was extremely proud and happy that three Indian Navy ships—INS Chennai, INS Kesari, and the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar—were involved in this groundbreaking maritime project.
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He emphasized that the Indian Navy and India as a whole are extremely proud of these ships’ presence in Dar es Salaam Harbor.
.According to Admiral Tripathi, AIKEYME is a ground-breaking exercise designed to promote regional maritime security solutions in the Indian Ocean area.
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Ten countries—India, Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, and Tanzania—are involved in this multilateral endeavor, which makes it a special forum for collaboration. The Harbour Phase and the Sea Phase are the two stages of the exercise.
The 35-day joint training session onboard IOS Sagar, where officers and sailors from participating nations will share best practices, is a unique aspect of AIKEYME. Defense Minister Rajnath Singh launched IOS Sagar from Karwar, Goa, on April 5. It will go to four more nations until coming to a close in Kochi in 30 to 35 days.
During his speech at the inaugural event, Union Minister of State for Defense Sanjay Seth also emphasized the significance of AIKEYME. He mentioned that four Tanzanian boats and three of India’s largest ships took part in the six-day drill, which included three days at sea and three days in Dar es Salaam.
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Seth emphasised that this initiative represents a collaborative effort to enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean region. Additionally, he highlighted India’s contribution to Tanzania’s Defence Department through donations worth ₹80 lakhs, including parachutes, simulators, and books.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision is in line with the first edition of AIKEYME.
The exercise not only strengthens maritime ties between India and African nations but also showcases India’s commitment to fostering unity and security across the Indian Ocean region. Additional evidence of attempts to strengthen regional defense capabilities was provided by the Defence Expo, which was conducted in conjunction with the exercise.
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The occasion signifies a historic partnership between African and Indian countries for marine advancement and security.
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