The Indian Navy has announced two key maritime initiatives—Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar and Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME)—to enhance regional cooperation and security in the Indian Ocean. 

IOS Sagar aims to strengthen India’s collaboration with Indian Ocean Region (IOR) nations. INS Sunayna will be deployed to the Southwest IOR in April 2025 with a combined crew from nine Friendly Foreign Countries (Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa).

The ship will conduct port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria, and Male while also engaging in joint surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles. FFC personnel will receive two weeks of specialised training at naval professional schools in Kochi and participate in onboard operations. They will also witness the harbor phase of Exercise AIKEYME in Tanzania. 

AIKEYME (Africa India Key Maritime Engagement), meaning "Unity" in Sanskrit, is a large-scale maritime exercise aimed at strengthening security ties between India and African nations. Co-hosted by the Indian Navy and Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Force (TPDF), the inaugural edition will take place in mid-April 2025 at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania and will be inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The six-day exercise includes participation from Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa. The Harbor Phase will focus on piracy response, information sharing, and training in Seamanship and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS), while the Sea Phase will include search and rescue operations, small arms firing, helicopter drills, and other maritime security exercises. 

Both initiatives highlight India’s commitment to strengthening maritime security, interoperability, and regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean. 

(PIB)