In a powerful demonstration of growing South-South cooperation, India and ten African nations launched their first-ever joint naval exercise off the Tanzanian coast this week, aiming to bolster regional maritime security in one of the world’s most vital sea lanes.

The six-day drill, aptly named the India-Africa Maritime Exercise (IAMEx), brings together naval forces from Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, India, and host nation Tanzania. It marks a major step in a new phase of strategic partnership across the Indian Ocean.

“This exercise reflects our shared commitment to ensuring peace and security in the Indian Ocean region,” said the Indian Navy in an official statement. “Together, we are strengthening our ability to tackle shared maritime threats and ensure stability.”

Central to the exercise are key Indian naval assets INS Chennai, a guided-missile destroyer; INS Kesari, an amphibious transport dock; and INS Sunayna, an offshore patrol vessel. The drills, which run through April 18, are being held under India’s strategic maritime doctrine, Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).

Tanzanian Defense Minister Stergomena Lawrence Tax emphasized the significance of the occasion during the opening ceremony.

“In these turbulent times, regional cooperation is not a choice but a necessity,” she said. “This drill allows us to train together, plan together, and operate together when needed. We are proud to be part of this historic moment.”

The joint exercise includes search-and-rescue operations, coordinated patrols, tactical maneuvers, and mock threat responses. But beyond the military scope, the event also includes cultural and sporting exchanges to strengthen interpersonal bonds among participating nations.

For Tanzania home to one of East Africa’s longest coastlines the drills represent a vital investment in maritime security. The region faces rising threats from piracy, illegal fishing, trafficking, and environmental challenges that impact trade and stability.

“We have seen how maritime threats destabilize economies,” said Minister Tax. “Through this joint naval exercise, we gain the skills and strategies to protect our coasts and collaborate with partners in real time.”

The exercise underscores Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s push to deepen ties with Africa under the SAGAR framework, positioning India as a stabilizing maritime force amid intensifying geopolitical interest in the region.

For African nations, the benefits go far beyond military cooperation.

“This is a step toward broader collaboration in maritime security, trade, and disaster response,” Minister Tax noted. “It strengthens our belief that the Indian Ocean should be a zone of peace and shared prosperity.”

As global powers vie for influence in the Indian Ocean, the India-Africa Maritime Exercise sends a clear signal, regional players are stepping up to shape their own security, together.