India and nine African nations on Sunday kick-started a six-day mega naval exercise off Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania, signalling their long-term vision to work unitedly to confront common challenges in the maritime domain.
The India-initiated exercise is taking place under the broad framework of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s new vision called MAHASAGAR or ‘Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions’ for engagement with the Global South.
The co-hosts of the maiden ‘AIKEYME’ or Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement exercise are the Indian Navy and the Tanzania Peoples Defence Force, officials said.
Navy Chief Dinesh K Tripathi, Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and Tanzanian Defence Minister Stergomena Lawrence Tax were among those who attended the inauguration ceremony of the exercise.
India and Africa have been cooperating in tackling maritime security threats such as piracy, illegal activities including trafficking, and unregulated and unreported fishing, through sharing of information and surveillance.
However, the ‘AIKEYME’ exercise is likely to significantly expand the ongoing cooperation, the officials said.
The inauguration ceremony was punctuated by a parade of a 50-man guard and the stirring performance of the Indian Navy Band, embodying the spirit of maritime cooperation, according to an Indian Navy readout.
In his remarks, Seth emphasised the African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together”, highlighting the need for enduring partnerships in maritime security.
He expressed gratitude to Tanzania for hosting AIKEYME 25, marking a significant step towards long-term collaboration, the Indian Navy said in the readout.
In his remarks, Lawrence Tax underscored the need for a collective approach to address challenges such as piracy and trafficking.
She reaffirmed Tanzania’s commitment to hosting future editions of AIKEYME and detailed the collaborative framework for regional maritime security.
Her remarks firmly established that the relationship extends beyond military affairs, advocating for a broader regional cooperation, the Indian Navy said.
Modi announced the vision MAHASAGAR for India’s engagement with the Global South during his visit to Mauritius last month.
The exercise is being joined by Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and South Africa in addition to the co-hosts, the officials said.
