Harsha Kakar
The inaugural edition of the multilateral naval exercise termed as the Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) was held last week off the coast of Tanzania. It was a continuation of India’s growing engagement with Africa and co-hosted by India and Tanzania. The exercise displays the growing bond between India and Africa.The nations which participated include Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and South Africa, alongside India and Tanzania.
A statement by the Indian Navy mentioned, ‘AIKEYME aims to develop collaborative solutions to common regional maritime challenges. This maiden initiative by the Indian Navy seeks to enhance interoperability and synergise combined operations among the maritime forces of partner nations.’ The sea-phase concentrated on coordinated patrols, search-and-rescue operations and tactical manoeuvres.
AIKEYME adheres to the vision of PM Modi, ‘Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR).’ Indian Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth and Defence Minister of Tanzania, Dr. Lawrence Tax, were chief guests for the inaugural event, hosted by the Indian naval chief, Admiral Dinesh Tripathi.
India and African ties have been expanding in all spheres including defence. It was India which pushed for the entry of the African Union into the G 20, in the summit held in Delhi in Sep 2023, thereby cementing its ties with the continent. India is now positioning itself as a leading voice for the Global South or developing nations, especially the African continent.Its major competitor is China.
New Delhi has periodically hosted the Voice of Global South Summit, attended by representatives of over 100 nations. China and Pakistan have never been invited. The last edition of the same was in Aug 2024. Similarly, China hosts its own China-African Security Forum which it commenced in 2018, where India is not invited.
In March 2023, India hosted the first India-Africa Army Chiefs’ Conclave. It was held on the sidelines of the 2nd Africa-India Joint Exercise ‘AFINDEX in Pune,in which25 nations participated. The first edition was held in 2019, with 17 participants. The India-Africa Defence Dialogue (IADD), at the level of the defence minister was held on the sidelines of DefExpo 2022 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat in Oct 2022.
As per a Press Information release, ‘Fifty African countries, including 20 Defence Ministers, seven CDS/Service Chiefs and eight Permanent Secretaries participated in the IADD attesting to high priority accorded to India-Africa engagement in defence and security.’ The defence minister also held bi-laterals with his counterparts from Zimbabwe, Yemen, Ethiopia, Gambia and Gabon on the sidelines of the Aero-India 2025 in Bengaluru.
India is increasing the number of its military attachés in Africa, enhancing military cooperation. Officers from multiple African nations attend training courses in India. New Delhi had gifted military equipment to few African nations over the years. Several coastal nations in Africa, including Kenya, Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, Somalia, and Tanzania are members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association. The organization aims to promote trade, investment, and economic collaboration among its members.
India has been training maritime forces of multiple African nations to counter security challenges like piracy, drug and human trafficking. It is also an established first responder in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief. Last year, India provided food aid to Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe, affected by severe drought. India had also sent 150 tonnes of medical aid to 32 African countries during the COVID-19 pandemic under its ‘Vaccine Maitri’ initiative. Its anti-piracy operations off the Somalia Coast have benefitted African nations.
Growing proximity in defence is beneficial for both, India and Africa. India’ defence exports, quality wise more reliable than China, lower in cost than the west, is being offered to African nationswith soft lines of credit through the state-owned Export-Import Bank. An example is India offering 155mm ammunition at USD 300-400 compared to the West’s 3000 USD each. Similarly, Indian 155 mm howitzers are half the price of western pieces.
India is moving in to occupy the weapons market in Africa, vacated by Russia as it has almost stopped exports to cater for the war in Ukraine. India can dominate the African defence market due to its cost-effective hardware, technological expertise and strong diplomatic ties.Without expanding to Africa, India cannot achieve its laid down export targets.
India is also engaging with Africa to offset growing Chinese footprints. As per inputs, 52 out of 54 African nations are members of the Chinese BRI. The Chinese have a base in Djibouti and have been attempting to gain another in Mozambique. The Chinese naval presence is increasing in the Western Indian Ocean, where India has traditionally considered itself as the resident power. Added is the mineral wealth of the region, which could benefit India.
Africa is also witnessing geopolitical shifts. It is the continent of coups.A number of African nations have demanded withdrawal of European forces from their soil, seeking to avoid being controlled by them. Ivory Coast and Senegal were the latest, following the footsteps of Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, which demanded the withdrawal of French/ Italian troops. In Aug last year, US troops were asked to withdraw from Niger. India has no intent to deploy forces in any of these nations.
African nations were tilting towards Russia and China, to avoid being dominated by the west. With India’s expanding outreach, the scenario is changing. India’s ties with the region have always been stable, especially with the presence of its large diaspora. In the midst of conflicts in Sudan and Niger, India could, with support from warring sides, deploy its air and naval resources to arrange timely evacuation. The current government lays emphasis on rescuing its diaspora from trouble spots.
India currently has military training teams in Namibia, Tanzania, Lesotho, Botswana and Uganda. It has also established defence training institutes in Nigeria and Tanzania. India has,for decades, deployed its forces under the UN Flag in peacekeeping operations in many African trouble spots, earning local goodwill. The Chinese only commenced deployment under the UN flag in 2011.
India has traditional links with Africa. Military cooperation is recent but being pushed vigorously. Traditionally, most African rulers are either from the army or backed by them. Hence, military diplomacy would play a more effective role than traditional diplomatic ties.
The author is Major General (Retd)
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