New Delhi: Aiming to strengthen maritime ties and address regional challenges, India and Tanzania are co-hosting the first-ever edition of Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025. Scheduled from 13 to 18 April, the six-day exercise brings together naval forces from Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, along with the co-hosts India and Tanzania.
 

Named after the Sanskrit word for "Unity", AIKEYME is a multilateral exercise focused on improving maritime security and operational coordination among participating nations. The initiative echoes India's broader vision of "Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR)."
 

Indian Naval ships INS Chennai, a guided-missile destroyer, and INS Kesari, a Landing Ship Tank, have already reached Dar es Salaam. The inauguration ceremony of AIKEYME will take place onboard these vessels, co-hosted by the Indian Navy and the Tanzanian People's Defence Force (TPDF). A Ceremonial Guard was mounted onboard INS Chennai, where the national anthems of both countries were played in unison.
 

The harbour phase of the exercise will see a series of activities, including tabletop and command post exercises centred on anti-piracy operations and information sharing. Joint training in seamanship and Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) exercises will also be conducted with the Tanzanian forces. Beyond operational drills, sports fixtures, yoga sessions, and open ship visits are lined up to strengthen bonds between the participating nations and the local community.
 

The sea phase, from 16 to 18 April, will focus on enhancing maritime security cooperation, with exercises aimed at building interoperability and developing collaborative responses to regional maritime issues.
 

AIKEYME highlights the growing maritime partnership between India and African nations. INS Sunayna, which departed Karwar on 5 April as part of India’s mission SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region), will also join the exercise, further demonstrating India’s commitment to maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean region.
 

BI Bureau