India and Tanzania Explore Fresh Avenues to Strengthen Defence Cooperation

On April 14, in Dar es Salaam, Sanjay Seth, the Minister of State for Defence, met with Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Tanzania's Minister of Defence and National Service, to explore new avenues for strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism efforts.

India, Tanzania explore new ways to boost defence ties | Hindustan Times

The Indian Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday that Seth also had a meeting with Tanzania's Vice President, Philip Isdor Mpango.

During the discussion between Seth and Tax, the current defense cooperation was assessed, and new strategies were explored to further strengthen the partnership.

"Training of Tanzanian officers in military training institutes of India, defence industry collaboration, cooperation in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, and cyber security were some of the key areas of cooperation deliberated upon during the meeting," the Ministry of Defence stated in a release.

On April 13, Seth and Tax launched the harbour phase of the Indian Navy's inaugural Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME), a multilateral naval exercise held in Dar es Salaam, aboard INS Chennai. A Defence Expo was also inaugurated during the event.

In his speech, Seth stressed the importance of unity and shared purpose to tackle the "vast maritime challenges" and ensure a peaceful and prosperous future.

Co-hosted by India and Tanzania, the naval exercise also includes participation from Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, and South Africa.

During his meeting with Tanzanian Vice President Mpango, Seth provided updates on the Africa-India Key Maritime Engagement, covering aspects from Indian defence industries to the AIKEYME exercise and the Defence Expo.

He also offered to meet the defence needs of the Tanzania People's Defence Force. The discussion included India-Tanzania's development partnership, cultural ties, and cooperation in the fields of health and education.

The exercise signifies the participating nations' commitment to maintaining a free, open, and secure Indian Ocean. According to the Indian defence ministry, a "new chapter" in India-Africa relations was added on this day.

On April 14, Seth visited the Sanatan Dharma and Swaminarayan Mandir before engaging with the Indian diaspora. He also participated in Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations at the High Commission of India in Tanzania.

In his interaction with the Indian community, Seth highlighted India's progress in various fields in recent years and acknowledged the significant contribution of the Indian diaspora to the growth and prosperity of both India and Tanzania.

(This Article was originally published by Hindustan Times)