India and African nations to conduct naval exercises countering Chinese influence
India and ten African nations will launch their first joint naval exercises in the Indian Ocean on April 12, aimed at countering China’s growing influence in the region, Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti, Deputy Chief of the Indian Navy, announced on Sunday.
In brief
The AIKEYME exercise, Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement, starts on 12 April in the Indian Ocean with the participation of India and ten African states. The six-day exercise is co-organised by India and Tanzania, joined by the Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, the Seychelles and South Africa. The programme includes a harbour phase in Tanzanian ports and a sea phase: repelling pirate attacks, search and rescue missions and helicopter operations. Vice Admiral Tarun Sobti named countering the influence of China, whose trade with Africa has reached 295 billion dollars, as the goal.
The six-day drills, titled Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME — a term that signifies "unity" in Sanskrit), will be co-hosted by India and Tanzania. Participating countries include Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa.
The exercises will unfold in two phases: the first will take place onshore at Tanzanian ports, while the second will be held at sea, involving joint fleet operations between African and Indian naval forces. The activities will include simulated counter-piracy missions, search and rescue operations, ship interdiction, small arms live fire drills, and coordinated helicopter missions.
The timing of the maneuvers is significant. China, through its Belt and Road Initiative, has entrenched itself as Africa’s largest trading partner and creditor. Official data indicates that bilateral trade between China and African countries reached $295 billion last year. Beijing has also invested billions in port and infrastructure development across East Africa.
According to analysts cited by MilitaryAfrica, the Indian-led maritime drills reflect New Delhi’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, which advocates for regional cooperation in addressing shared security threats. The exercises are seen as a strategic counterbalance to China’s expanding footprint on the continent.
Source: PAP / Gazeta Morska · Compiled by: Kamil Kusier
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