New Delhi [India], July 29 (ANI): Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, has departed on a four-day official visit to Japan from July 30 to August 2. This visit is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral defense relations between India and Japan, under the deepening ‘Special Strategic and Global Partnership,’ with a focus on enhancing maritime cooperation, according to the Ministry of Defence.
During the visit, the Chief of Naval Staff is scheduled to hold bilateral discussions with senior Japanese government officials, including Minister of Defence Nakatani Gen, Vice-Minister of Defence Masuda Kazuo, and Admiral Saito Akira, Chief of Staff of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).
The discussions will cover a wide range of defense cooperation areas, with special focus on maritime security, technological collaboration, and identifying new avenues to strengthen naval synergy and interoperability. Admiral Tripathi will also visit JMSDF units and interact with the Commander-in-Chief, Self-Defense Fleet, at Funakoshi JMSDF Base.
The Ministry of Defence stated that Admiral Tripathi’s engagements in Japan are poised to further deepen the bonds of friendship and defense cooperation between the two nations, paving the way for greater mutual understanding in strategic and maritime interests. The visit reaffirms the time-tested India-Japan friendship anchored in mutual respect, maritime trust, and a shared vision for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
In April this year, Admiral Tripathi visited Tanzania to strengthen strategic ties and enhance maritime cooperation between the two nations. A highlight of that visit was the inaugural edition of the Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) exercise, meaning “Unity” in Sanskrit, held from April 13 to 18.
Sharing a post on X, the Indian Navy stated, “Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, #CNS, was on an official visit to Tanzania from 12–16 Apr 25. The visit aimed to strengthen maritime cooperation and strategic ties between India and Tanzania, underscoring India’s commitment to enhancing defense partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region.”
The post added, “The maiden edition of the large-scale multilateral exercise Africa India Key Maritime Engagement #AIKEYME, co-hosted by the #IndianNavy and the Tanzania People’s Defence Force #TPDF, was scheduled to be jointly inaugurated at Dar-es-Salaam on 13 Apr 25.”
The six-day AIKEYME exercise included participation from Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa, alongside co-hosts India and Tanzania. This initiative aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR).
Indian Naval Ships INS Chennai (destroyer) and INS Kesari [Landing Ship Tank (Large)] arrived in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania on April 10 and 11, and the inauguration ceremony of AIKEYME was co-hosted onboard with the Tanzanian People’s Defence Force (TPDF). A Ceremonial Guard was paraded onboard INS Chennai, accompanied by the TPDF and Indian Navy bands playing the national anthems of the respective countries.
The harbor phase of AIKEYME 25 included an inauguration ceremony and a deck reception with the Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, and Tanzania’s Defence Minister as chief guests. Planned activities during this phase included tabletop and command post exercises focused on anti-piracy operations and information sharing, joint seamanship training, and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) exercises in collaboration with the TPDF. Additional events promoting camaraderie included sports fixtures and yoga sessions. Indian Naval ships were also opened to visitors to engage with the local population.
The sea phase, held from April 16 to 18, focused on strengthening maritime security cooperation among the participating nations. AIKEYME aimed to develop collaborative solutions to common regional maritime challenges and enhance interoperability among partner naval forces.
INS Sunayna, which had sailed from Karwar on April 5 as part of the Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR mission, also participated in AIKEYME. (ANI)
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