India-Africa Maritime Exercises Strengthen Security in Indian Ocean

Why in News ?

The Indian Navy announced AI-KEYME and IOS Sagar, two major maritime initiatives with African nations to counter piracy, enhance regional security, and strengthen India’s strategic ties. These exercises align with India’s MAHASAGAR initiative, reinforcing its role in the Indian Ocean Region.

India’s Strategic Maritime Engagement with Africa:

  • The Indian Navy has announced increased collaboration with African nations in response to rising piracy threats, China’s influence, and attacks on global shipping by Houthi rebels.
  • A new multinational maritime exercise, “Africa India Key Maritime Engagement” (AI-KEYME), will be conducted with 12 African nations to strengthen regional security.

Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar Deployment

  • Under IOS Sagar, the offshore patrol vessel INS Sunayna will be deployed in the Southwest Indian Ocean Region (IOR) from April 5 to May 8.
  • The mission includes a joint crew of Indian personnel and 44 officers from 9 Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs)—Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa.
  • The ship will undertake joint surveillance of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles, along with port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria, and Male.

Strengthening Regional Maritime Security

  • The Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions (MAHASAGAR) initiative, announced by PM Modi, aligns with these efforts to enhance India’s role as a Preferred Security Partner in the Indian Ocean Region.
  • FFC personnel will receive two weeks of naval training in Kochi, participate in watchkeeping, and engage in hands-on maritime operations.
  • The AI-KEYME exercise, co-hosted by India and Tanzania, will be conducted at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, further strengthening India’s maritime ties with Africa.

About AIKEYME:

● AIKEYME (Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement) aims to strengthen maritime security and interoperability.

●It includes 10 African nations: Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa.

Objectives of the Exercise

●Combat maritime threats like piracy and illegal fishing.

●Enhance collaboration through information sharing and surveillance.

●Build capacity among African navies for operational readiness.

Structure of the Exercise

●Duration: Six days, divided into harbour and sea phases.

●Harbour Phase: Table-top exercises, seamanship training, and VBSS operations.

● Sea Phase: Seamanship evolutions, search-and-rescue, small-arms firing, and helicopter drills.

About the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar Initiative:

● INS Sunayna will be deployed to the southwest Indian Ocean.

●Joint crew from India and nine African nations for operational collaboration.

Training and Capacity Building

●Two-week training at naval professional schools in Kochi.

●Prepares personnel for INS Sunayna deployment and future naval cooperation.