The Indian Navy, in alignment with its vision of fostering security and growth across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), has unveiled two pivotal initiatives: the Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar program and the Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) exercise. These landmark efforts aim to consolidate India’s role as the ‘Preferred Security Partner’ and ‘First Responder’ in maritime security, further reinforcing international collaboration.
IOS Sagar: A Symbol of Unity on the High Seas
The Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar initiative represents a significant step in the Indian Navy’s commitment to fostering partnerships within the IOR. As part of this program, the Indian Naval ship INS Sunayna will be deployed to the southwest IOR in April 2025, carrying a combined crew from India and nine partner nations—Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa.
INS Sunayna will undertake joint surveillance of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) belonging to Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles, and make port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria, and Male. Additionally, personnel from these Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs) will undergo intensive training sessions at naval professional schools in Kochi, including at-sea training. Their participation will span shipboard activities, watchkeeping duties, and branch-specific assignments. The initiative epitomizes India’s steadfast commitment to fostering cooperative maritime relationships.
Participants of IOS Sagar will also witness the harbor phase activities of the AIKEYME exercise at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, further enhancing their maritime collaboration experience.
AIKEYME: Unifying India and Africa for Maritime Security
The Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) exercise, named after the Sanskrit term for ‘Unity,’ underscores the mutual commitment of India and African nations to tackle maritime security challenges. Co-hosted by the Indian Navy and the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Force (TPDF), this inaugural edition of AIKEYME is set to take place in April 2025 at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
Spanning six days, AIKEYME will witness participation from ten African nations—Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa—alongside the co-hosts. The exercise seeks to enhance interoperability between the participating navies and maritime agencies, addressing threats such as piracy, trafficking, illegal fishing, and other maritime concerns through joint operations and information sharing.
The exercise will comprise two phases: harbor and sea. The harbor phase will feature tabletop and command post exercises focused on piracy, seamanship, and visit board search and seizure (VBSS) operations. Meanwhile, the sea phase will include practical demonstrations of small-arms firing, helicopter operations, and search-and-rescue missions, among other activities.
A Decade of Maritime Diplomacy
Over the past ten years, the Indian Navy has consistently deepened its relationships with IOR maritime agencies through joint naval exercises, coordinated patrols, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) initiatives, capacity-building efforts, and diplomatic engagements. These programs are aligned with the Government of India’s overarching vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ (SAGAR).
With SAGAR entering its second decade, and the recent announcement of the Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions (MAHASAGAR), the launch of IOS Sagar and AIKEYME exemplifies India’s commitment to fostering comprehensive maritime security in the region.
Through these initiatives, India continues to play a vital role in shaping the maritime security landscape of the Indian Ocean Region, ensuring safety, stability, and growth for all stakeholders involved.
