Strengthening maritime security through the Africa–India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME)

A wake-Up call from the seas

In 2020, off the coast of Somalia, a container ship carrying food aid was hijacked by pirates. It was freed after weeks of negotiation, but the message was clear: Africa’s oceans worth $405 billion annually in trade, fisheries, and energy are vulnerable. Piracy, illegal fishing, and smuggling continue to drain billions and threaten livelihoods. Coastal nations lose $2.3 billion every year to illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing. Without stronger maritime security, the promise of Africa’s blue economy remains at risk.

Enter AIKEYME – Africa & India join forces

In August 2025, India and African nations launched the Africa–India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) in Tanzania. This isn’t just a military drill, it’s a strategic partnership to secure one of the world’s busiest trade corridors, the Indian Ocean.

AIKEYME 2025 focus areas:

• Counter-piracy patrols to secure commercial shipping routes.
• Humanitarian & disaster-response training because cyclones and sea rescues are as pressing as piracy.
• High-tech surveillance systems to track smugglers and illegal fishing fleets.
• Naval diplomacy building trust and long-term cooperation between African and Indian forces.
• With 10 African coastal states and India participating, AIKEYME marks the beginning of a new era in regional maritime defense.

Case Study Story: Mozambique’s Turning Point

Imagine northern Mozambique in 2021: insurgents attacking coastal towns, offshore gas projects worth billions stalled, and local fishermen too afraid to go to sea. Limited patrols left the waters exposed.

Now, under AIKEYME 2025, Mozambique is no longer alone. Its navy trains alongside India’s maritime experts, learning to use advanced radar and drone surveillance. Coastal patrols are more coordinated, protecting energy installations and allowing fishermen to return to work. For ordinary Mozambicans, maritime security isn’t abstract policy it’s food on the table and safer communities.

Why AIKEYME matters globally

For Africa: Protects exclusive economic zones (EEZs), strengthens blue economy resilience, and boosts trade security.

For India: Ensures safe sea lanes for vital imports and deepens its leadership role in the Indian Ocean.

For the World: Secures a corridor where 40% of global trade passes benefiting exporters, consumers, and shipping companies worldwide.

Policy takeaway

AIKEYME is more than a naval exercise it’s a blueprint for South-South cooperation. It signals Africa’s shift from vulnerability to leadership in maritime governance, while India steps up as a reliable partner in ensuring global sea security. Together, they are rewriting the rules of collective defense in the Global South.

Next steps for policymakers:

1. Institutionalise AIKEYME as an annual African Union–backed exercise.
2. Engage private-sector partners from shipping companies to fisheries to make it inclusive.
3. Align with AIMS 2050 (Africa’s Integrated Maritime Strategy) for long-term sustainability.

The seas connect us all. With AIKEYME, Africa and India aren’t just protecting coastlines they’re ensuring global trade flows, protecting millions of livelihoods, and proving that shared security is the key to shared prosperity.