In News:

India’s Maiden India-Africa Naval Exercise: Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar & AIKEYME.

Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar

• Launched: April 5 – May 8, 2025
• Vessel: INS Sunayna (Offshore Patrol Vessel)
• Objective: Maritime security cooperation in the Southwest Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
• Participants:India + 9 African & IOR nations:Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa
• Activities:

• Port Visits: Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania), Nacala (Mozambique), Port Louis (Mauritius), Port Victoria (Seychelles), Male (Maldives)
• Joint EEZ Surveillance: With Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and Seychelles
• Training: Personnel from participating countries trained at Indian naval institutions in Kochi on operations, navigation, and maritime security

AIKEYME (Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement)

• Meaning: "Unity" (from Sanskrit)
• Type: First Multilateral Naval Exercise between India and African nations
• Duration: Six days in mid-April 2025
• Co-hosts: Indian Navy and Tanzania People's Defence Force (TPDF)
• Inauguration: By Indian Defence Minister at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
• Participants:India + 10 African nations:Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Tanzania
• Exercise Phases:
  • Harbour Phase:
    • Table-top exercises
    • Command post exercises on piracy and information sharing
    • Training in Seamanship and Visit, Board, Search & Seizure (VBSS)
  • Sea Phase:
    • Maritime security drills
    • Search and Rescue (SAR)
    • Small arms firing
    • Helicopter operations

Strategic Context & Broader Framework

SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) – 2015

• Aim: Promote a free, open, inclusive and secure Indo-Pacific
• Key Pillars:
  • Countering China's influence in the region
  • Enhancing maritime security (anti-piracy, anti-terrorism)
  • Capacity building in disaster management and infrastructure
  • Promoting regional economic and connectivity projects

MAHASAGAR Initiative

• Announced by PM Modi in Mauritius
• Stands for Advancement for Security Across the Regions
• Focuses on bolstering maritime security partnerships across the Indian Ocean

Key Supporting Indian Initiatives

• Mission SAGAR: Delivered COVID-19 aid to Indian Ocean nations
• Vaccine Maitri: Supplied vaccines to neighbours like Maldives and Bhutan
• South Asia Satellite: Enhanced communication & disaster response
• Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Project: Boosted India-Myanmar-Southeast Asia connectivity