NewzVille Desk
The inaugural edition of the large-scale multilateral exercise Africa India Key Maritime Engagement, AIKEYME is planned for six days from 13-18 April 2025. AIKEYME means ‘Unity’ in Sanskrit. The exercise will include participation from Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and South Africa, alongside the co-hosts India and Tanzania.
The Indian Naval Ships INS Chennai (destroyer) and INS Kesari (Landing Ship Tank) arrived in Dar-es-Salaam on 10 & 11 April 2025 respectively. The inauguration ceremony of AIKEYME will be co-hosted onboard, along with the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Force (TPDF). The ships were welcomed by the DA Tanzania and Liaison team. A Ceremonial Guard was also paraded onboard INS Chennai with TPDF and Indian Navy band playing in unison the National Anthems of respective countries.
The harbour phase for AIKEYME 25 will include an inauguration ceremony and a deck reception with the Honorable Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth and Defence Minister, Tanzania as Chief Guests.
Planned activities during this phase include Table Top and Command Post Exercises focused on anti-piracy ops and information sharing, alongside joint training in seamanship and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) exercises in collaboration with the TPDF.
To promote camaraderie, activities such as sports fixtures and yoga sessions will also take place. Additionally, the Indian Naval ships will be open to visitors during the harbour phase to engage with the local population.
The sea phase, scheduled from 16-18 April 2025, will focus on strengthening maritime security cooperation among the participating maritime nations.
AIKEYME aims to develop collaborative solutions to common regional maritime challenges. This maiden initiative by the Indian Navy seeks to enhance interoperability and synergise combined operations among the maritime forces of partner nations. It also highlights the strong and friendly relations between India and the African nations.
INS Sunayna which sailed out from Karwar on 05 April 2025, as Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR, will also be participating in AIKEYME.
