Kenya, India, and Tanzania Navies Conclude High-Level Maritime Drill in Dar es Salaam

The Kenya Navy, alongside the Indian and Tanzanian navies, successfully concluded the Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025 exercise on April 18, 2025, in Dar es Salaam, marking a significant step in bolstering regional maritime security and cooperation.

The multinational exercise, hosted at the Port of Dar es Salaam, featured complex drills designed to enhance operational readiness and interoperability among the participating navies.

Key activities included Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operations to strengthen counter-piracy and maritime interdiction capabilities, Replenishment at Sea (RAS) drills showcasing logistical coordination, and intricate ship maneuvers demonstrating tactical prowess.

Approaches to Towing (APTOW) exercises further underscored the navies’ ability to provide mutual support during operational challenges.

Kenya Navy Ships (KNS) Jasiri and Shupavu, supported by the elite Special Boats Unit (SBU), played central roles in the exercise, exemplifying operational excellence.

The drills highlighted the navies’ collective commitment to safeguarding the Indian Ocean, a critical maritime corridor.

On April 16, Commander Kenya Navy Fleet, Brigadier Mohammed Shemote, joined the crews of KNS Jasiri, KNS Shupavu, and the SBU to launch the second sea phase of AIKEYME 2025.

Addressing the sailors, Brigadier Shemote praised their professionalism and dedication, emphasizing their role in fostering regional partnerships.

“Your skills and commitment strengthen the ties between our navies and advance maritime stability across the region,” he said, conveying gratitude from the Commander of the Kenya Navy.

Commanding Officers from the Indian, Kenyan, and Tanzanian navies lauded the exercise’s success, noting that AIKEYME 2025 sets a benchmark for collaborative maritime initiatives.

“Exercises like these are vital for building trust and ensuring a united response to maritime security challenges,” a senior officer remarked.

The successful completion of AIKEYME 2025 underscores the importance of sustained cooperation among Kenya, India, and Tanzania in addressing piracy, smuggling, and other threats in the Indian Ocean. As regional maritime challenges grow, such exercises reaffirm the navies’ shared resolve to maintain stability and security in these vital waters.