Dar es Salaam, Tanzania — April 13, 2025
In a significant step towards deepening maritime cooperation across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), INS Sunayna, an Indian Naval vessel designated as an Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) under the SAGAR initiative, arrived at the Port of Dar-es-Salaam on April 12. The port call marks the vessel’s participation in the inaugural Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME), a multilateral naval exercise co-hosted by India and Tanzania from April 13 to 18.
The ship’s arrival was met with a warm welcome by senior dignitaries including Rear Admiral AR Hassan, Chief of the Tanzania Navy; Rear Admiral Nirbhay Bapna, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Foreign Cooperation and Intelligence), Indian Navy; and Commodore Agyapal Singh, India’s Defence Attaché to Tanzania. Officials from the Indian High Commission and the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF) were also in attendance to mark the occasion.
INS Sunayna sailed from Karwar, India on April 5, with 44 naval personnel from nine Friendly Foreign Nations (FFNs)—Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and South Africa—onboard. This multinational crew embodies the spirit of regional unity and the shared commitment to ensuring maritime security across the Indian Ocean.
A Landmark Naval Initiative: Exercise AIKEYME
Exercise AIKEYME—derived from the Sanskrit word “Aikeyme,” meaning “Unity”—is designed to strengthen collaboration among navies of Indian Ocean littoral states. The first-of-its-kind initiative will include both harbour and sea phases, featuring joint drills, tabletop exercises, and interoperability training focused on anti-piracy operations, maritime domain awareness, and coordinated response strategies.
According to the Indian Ministry of Defence, AIKEYME aims to “develop collaborative solutions to common regional maritime challenges” while enhancing operational coordination and promoting peace, stability, and sustainable maritime practices.
Union Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, will officiate the inauguration of the exercise on April 13. The event is expected to bring together top defence representatives from participating nations, including a ceremonial deck reception and joint guard of honour on board the Indian Navy’s INS Chennai.
A Strategic Presence: Strengthening Regional Maritime Security
Joining INS Sunayna in Dar-es-Salaam are INS Chennai, a destroyer, and INS Kesari, a Landing Ship Tank (Large), which arrived earlier on April 10 and 11. These vessels will take part in the harbour and sea phases of AIKEYME, alongside the TPDF and navies from other participating countries.
The exercise includes Command Post Exercises, Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) drills, and seamanship training—focused on boosting real-time maritime coordination. Community engagement activities like ship visits, sports fixtures, and yoga sessions are also scheduled, promoting mutual understanding and camaraderie between navies and local communities.
The sea phase, set to run from April 16–18, will include joint maritime maneuvers and operational exercises aimed at bolstering regional maritime security cooperation.
SAGAR Vision in Action
INS Sunayna’s deployment is a part of India’s larger SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative, which seeks to promote mutual progress through maritime collaboration. AIKEYME aligns closely with this vision, reinforcing India’s commitment to collective maritime safety and free navigation across international waters.
Following its departure from Dar-es-Salaam on April 15, INS Sunayna will head to Nacala, Mozambique, as part of its ongoing IOS SAGAR mission—continuing its journey of maritime diplomacy and regional engagement.
As the waves of AIKEYME 2025 ripple through the Indian Ocean, they echo a shared goal: fostering unity, security, and progress through cooperation at sea.
