AIKEYME Drives India’s Naval Push in Africa, Countering China

oleh admin | Mar 30, 2025 | asia, foreign policy, international relations, military, politics

Experts suggest that India’s naval diplomacy aims at fostering trust and providing a ‘non-confrontational’ alternative to China’s investment strategies.

India
is scheduled to commence its initial significant maritime drill involving 10 African countries next month, indicating its expanding strategic aspirations.

The Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) drill will be conducted off the coast of Dar es Salaam.
Tanzania
In mid-April, amidst New Delhi’s expanding military engagement on a continent where China has historically held significant influence.

The Indian Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh, will kick off the six-day drill, where India will be co-hosting alongside the Tanzania People’s Defence Force. This gathering will assemble navies from various countries including Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa.

Are you curious about the most significant issues and global trends? Find out here.
SCMP Knowledge
Our latest platform offers carefully selected content including explainers, FAQs, analyses, and infographics, all provided by our acclaimed team.

This exercise represents a significant move in India’s maritime diplomacy, strengthening its position as a regional security contributor and enhancing both strategic and economic connections with Africa, asserts Robinder Sachdev, an expert in international relations and the founding president of the Imagindia Institute, a Delhi-based research organization.

India’s naval activity in the area isn’t completely unprecedented. The nation currently runs a coastal radar monitoring system across Mauritius, Seychelles, and the Maldives through its Integrated Coastal Surveillance System. However, “AIKEYME enhances the level of combined operational preparedness,” as noted by Sachdev, thereby facilitating quicker and better-coordinated reactions to marine security challenges.

He stated that strategically, this exercise strengthens India’s role as a dependable and non-coercive maritime ally, especially in nations such as Mozambique and Tanzania, where India maintains significant interests in LNG and ports.

Sachdev stated that AIKEYME held significant geopolitical importance as it aligned with the policy objectives of the
United States
And other democratic allies were also mentioned. He stated, “The United States has continually urged partners such as India to assume more significant responsibilities in ensuring regional security, particularly within the Indian Ocean and the broader Indo-Pacific region.”

A ‘managerial role’

The scheduling of AIKEYME is not accidental. China, with its vast
Belt and Road Initiative
has solidified its position as Africa’s biggest trading partner and lender, with official statistics indicating that commerce between them totaled $295 billion last year. China has additionally set up a military presence in Djibouti and significantly increased investment in East African ports and infrastructure.

India’s action is seen as a deliberate strategy to offset Beijing’s increasing clout, according to experts. Analysts suggest that East Africa holds significant strategic importance for India across various sectors such as energy resources. In this light, they believe this specific combined naval drill will enhance India’s reputation as a trustworthy ally in Africa. As stated by C. Uday Bhaskar, a retired Indian navy official and director of the Society for Policy Studies research organization, “This military exercise underscores India’s commitment to strengthening ties with African nations.”

He recognized the difficulties involved, though. Given that China’s economic assets vastly exceed those of India, Bhaskar suggested that Delhi should concentrate on fostering good relations instead of attempting to compete with China financially.

“It would be perfect if India and China could both collaborate to support Africa, but achieving this would demand significant political acumen and cooperation from both nations,” he noted.

Alongside AIKEYME, there’s another pioneering effort known as the Indian Ocean Ship Sagar. Between mid-April and early May, the offshore patrol ship INS Sunayana will operate with a mixed crew consisting of Indian naval officers alongside servicemen from nine African countries such as Kenya, Madagascar, and South Africa. This team will carry out combined patrols within the exclusive economic zones of Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, and the Seychelles. During these operations, they’ll also make stops at ports like Dar es Salaam, Nacala, Port Louis, Port Victoria, and Malé.

Dongkeun Lee, a defense studies academic from the Strategic and Defence Studies Centre at the Australian National University, noted that this initiative underscored India’s ambition to assume a “management position” within the Indian Ocean region.

While the Western Indian Ocean is frequently excluded from discussions about the Indo-Pacific, especially within U.S. circles, India views the region as an integral part of the Indo-Pacific concept,” he stated. “Furthermore, several African nations participating in naval drills are situated in the Western Indian Ocean, highlighting India’s desire to play a leading role throughout the larger area.

Lee stated with certainty that China intended to broaden its Belt and Road investments throughout Africa. This suggests that programs like AIKEME and Sagar could be viewed as part of New Delhi’s approach to counterbalance China’s growing sway over the larger Indian Ocean area.

The importance of AIKEYME has grown due to its timing after “Peace-Unity 2024,” a one-month joint military exercise conducted in mid-2024 involving China, Tanzania, and Mozambique. According to Paul Nantulya, a researcher affiliated with the Africa Centre for Strategic Studies at the National Defense University in the U.S., this particular drill marked China’s biggest troop deployment to Africa since 1997.

“It appears AIKEYME was intentionally made bigger than Peace-Unity 2024. Since China hasn’t held any exercises in Africa for 2025, it will be intriguing to see their response to this upcoming Indian effort,” Nantulya commented.

India’s economic involvement in Africa began before China started engaging with the continent, he stated. “India boasts a significantly larger native populace that forms an integral part of Africa’s demographics, arriving in the 17th century and actively participating in the region’s political landscape, particularly during its fight for freedom,” explained Nantulya.

This indicates that they possess an edge since they assimilate with African communities and turn ‘native’ in a manner that Chinese enclaves do not.

Economic, strategic stakes

According to the Confederation of Indian Industry, India’s commerce with Africa amounts to $83 billion, with 90 percent of this volume transacted through maritime channels. In the last ten years, New Delhi has provided approximately $12 billion in credit to 42 African countries, accounting for roughly 40 percent of its international credit pledges.

However, commentators indicate that India’s initiatives appear modest alongside China’s substantial investments. These Chinese investments encompass 643 direct projects totaling $150 billion, as reported by the Hinrich Foundation, a trade sustainability organization based in Singapore.

Sayantan Haldar, a maritime-security specialist with the Observer Research Foundation think tank based in Delhi, views these naval drills as an essential move for India to position itself as a key security ally in Africa.

“Towards this objective, India’s strategic presence within the area is expected to gain significant enhancement,” Haldar stated, emphasizing that converting this progress into an economic aspect would be crucial. He pointed out that India’s main hurdle was China’s extensive economic involvement in Africa.

“Africa has been striving for consistent development collaborations,” Haldar stated. “In this regard, China is considered a vital ally. In order to rival China in Africa, India must refine its strategy and enhance economic alliances. Nonetheless, collaboration on maritime security could serve as a significant foundation for India’s efforts in Africa.”

African countries are facing challenges such as drug smuggling, unauthorized fishing, and piracy—areas where India’s naval experience could offer valuable assistance, according to Bhaskar.

Even with these initiatives, India’s impact in Africa stays restricted due to the absence of permanent diplomatic missions in 16 African nations and its comparatively sluggish implementation of developmental aid.

Sachdev stated that India’s initiatives in Africa do not seek to outcompete China economically, but rather provide a reliable, long-term strategic option. This approach is particularly focused on sectors where China’s debt-fueled, government-dominated strategy has sparked worries amongst African countries.

In September, China hosted leaders from 53 African nations at the ninth summit.
Beijing Forum on China-Africa Cooperation
, ending with a shared statement advocating for a more multipolar global order, along with the endorsement of an action plan designed to enhance collaboration between them in the upcoming years.

More Articles from SCMP

SCMP Top Picks: Newcomer can offer bettors their moment of Triumph at Sha Tin

Daniel Wu’s English classes provide insights beyond what appears at first glance.

Hong Kong Sevens: New Zealand’s Reign Comes to an End as France Mounts a Comeback, Fiji Breaks Spain’s Heart

“Don’t hastily criticize CK Hutchison’s port agreement,” warns Hong Kong legislator.

The article initially appeared on the South ChinaMorning Post (www.scmp.com), which is the premier source for news coverage of China andAsia.

Copyright © 2025. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.