IOS Sagar and AIKEYME

• 01 Apr 2025

Source: TH 

The Indian Navy has announced its maiden initiatives of Indian Ocean Ship (IOS) Sagar and Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME), which are aimed at consolidating Indian Navy’s stature as the ‘Preferred Security Partner’ and ‘First Responder’ in Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and advancing the vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security Across the Regions (MAHASAGAR). 

• IOS Sagar: INS Sunayna is being deployed to the Southwest IOR with a combined crew of India and nine Friendly Foreign Countries (Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka , South Africa). 
  • INS Sunayna will visit Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania), Nacala (Mozambique), Port Louis (Mauritius), Port Victoria (Seychelles), and Male (Maldives) for joint Exclusive Economic Zones surveillance.  
  • The participants of IOS Sagar are also planned to witness harbour phase activities of Exercise AIKEYME at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. 
• AIKEYME: It is co-hosted by India and Tanzania, with its first edition in April 2025 at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.  
  • The exercise involves 11 nations, including Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, India, and Tanzania. 
  • Includes training on anti-piracy operations, Search and Rescue (SAR), seamanship skills, visit board search and seizure (VBSS), and helicopter operations. 
• INS Sunayna: It is an Offshore Patrol Vessel, stationed at Southern Naval Command (Kochi).  

Read more: Building a Secure and Prosperous Indian Ocean Region