The inaugural Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) exercise took place from April 13 to 18, 2025, in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. This landmark event marked the first multilateral naval exercise between India and African nations, aiming to bolster maritime security and cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region.
In this week’s Defence Mantra, Editor-in-chief Nitin A. Gokhale talks about the strategic importance of this exercise and how the region will benefit.
AIKEYME aims to develop collaborative solutions to common regional maritime challenges.
Overview of AIKEYME 2025
- Meaning: ‘AIKEYME’ translates to ‘Unity’ in Sanskrit, symbolizing the collaborative spirit of the exercise
- Participants: India and 10 African countries: Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, and Tanzania.
- Indian Naval Ships INS Chennai (destroyer) and INS Kesari [Landing Ship Tank (Large)] arrived in Dar-es-Salaam to participate in the exercise.
Phases
- Harbour Phase (April 13–15): Included table-top and command post exercises focusing on anti-piracy operations and information sharing, as well as joint training in seamanship and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) simulations.
- Sea Phase (April 16–18): Featured drills, search and rescue operations, VBSS, small arms training, and helicopter operations.
Strategic Significance
- Maritime Security: AIKEYME aimed to enhance interoperability among participating navies to address common maritime threats such as piracy, illegal fishing, and trafficking.
- Regional Stability: By fostering collaboration, the exercise contributed to the stability and security of the Indian Ocean Region.
- Diplomatic Relations: The initiative strengthened diplomatic ties between India and African nations, promoting mutual trust and cooperation.
