India to hold naval exercise with 10 African nations

India will hold its first significant naval exercise named 'Aikeyme' with 10 African nations next month. This initiative aims to improve maritime security in the Indian Ocean and reinforce India's position as a security partner. Aikeyme will focus on marine drills and rescue operations. The exercise will take place off the coast of Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, from April 13 to 18. Countries participating include Tanzania, Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will officially open the event. India's Navy Deputy Chief, Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, highlighted the importance of enhancing partnerships in the region. The Indian Ocean has seen threats from Somali pirates and Houthi rebels, prompting India to maintain a warship presence in the Gulf of Aden. Sobti noted that this exercise will help in future collaboration on anti-piracy operations and information sharing. Alongside Aikeyme, India will launch the 'Indian Ocean ship (IOS) Sagar' initiative, which involves joint maritime patrols. From April 5, the offshore patrol vessel INS Sunayna will have a crew of Indian sailors and 44 personnel from various African countries. The ship will visit several ports and conduct joint surveillance of exclusive economic zones (EEZs) in the region. Overall, these initiatives reflect India's commitment to maritime security and cooperative relations with African nations. The goal is to tackle issues like piracy, drug smuggling, and other illegal activities in the Indian Ocean.