New Delhi, March 2025: The Indian Navy is making a significant move to strengthen maritime security and foster regional cooperation. It is set to launch two maiden initiatives: Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar and Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME). These efforts aim to consolidate India’s role as the ‘Preferred Security Partner.’ They also aim to establish India as the First Responder in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). They align with the Government of India’s Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) vision. This vision is now entering its second decade. The announcement comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled the Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions (MAHASAGAR). This unveiling happened during his visit to Mauritius in March 2025.
IOS Sagar: Strengthening Maritime Bonds Across the Indian Ocean
As part of IOS Sagar, the INS Sunayna will be deployed to the Southwest IOR in April 2025. It will have a combined crew of Indian and nine Friendly Foreign Countries (FFCs). These countries are Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. The deployment will last over a month. It will include port calls at Dar-es-Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria, and Male. There will be joint surveillance of the Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles.
To enhance interoperability, personnel from the FFCs will undergo a two-week training program. This will take place at various naval schools in Kochi, including at-sea training. They will participate in whole-ship activities, watch-keeping duties, and other branch-specific operations. The IOS Sagar participants will also witness the harbour phase of Exercise AIKEYME in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.
AIKEYME: Uniting India and Africa for Maritime Security
The AIKEYME exercise marks a major step in strengthening India-Africa maritime cooperation. Named after the Sanskrit word for ‘Unity,’ AIKEYME will focus on countering maritime threats. These include piracy, trafficking, and illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing. The large-scale multilateral exercise is co-hosted by the Indian Navy and Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF). It will be held at/off Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania in mid-April 2025.
The exercise will span six days. It will involve participation from Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa. The co-hosts will also participate.
The harbour phase will feature tabletop and command post exercises on piracy. It will also include information sharing. There will be training on seamanship and Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) techniques. The sea phase will include seamanship drills, search and rescue operations, small arms firing, and helicopter operations. These activities will boost coordination and interoperability between the participating navies.
Paving the Way for a Secure and United Indian Ocean Region
The launch of IOS Sagar and AIKEYME highlights India’s commitment to fostering regional stability. It enhances maritime security. The launch also builds stronger partnerships with IOR nations. These initiatives show the Indian Navy’s evolving role in maritime diplomacy. They also emphasize its cooperative security efforts across the region.
