Exercise AIKEYME

Exercise AIKEYME: The Indian Navy has announced maiden initiatives to enhance cooperation with Africa and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), including the large-scale multinational exercise ‘Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME)’ and the deployment of Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar.

• About Exercise AIKEYME: India’s first-ever multilateral naval exercise with 10 African nations.

o Objective: Improve maritime cooperation and enhance maritime security and address regional threats like piracy and drug trafficking.

o Participating Countries: Tanzania (co-host), Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa.

o Focus: Increase interoperability between the Indian Navy and African navies.

• IOS Sagar Initiative: Deepen maritime cooperation with IOR (Indian Ocean Region) countries.
• Deployment: Involves the deployment of INS Sunayna with a combined crew of Indian sailors and 44 personnel from nine African countries.
• Key Participating Countries: Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa.