India and Tanzania Deepen Defence Ties with New Strategic Collaborations

India and Tanzania have expanded their defence cooperation through high-level meetings and the launch of joint military exercises. Key focus areas include counter-terrorism, cyber security, and training. A Defence Expo and diaspora engagement highlighted India’s broader commitment to strengthening ties with Tanzania across defence, cultural, and developmental fronts.

India and Tanzania have taken significant steps to strengthen their defence partnership, following high-level discussions held in Dar es Salaam between India’s Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, and Tanzania’s Minister of Defence and National Service, Stergomena Lawrence Tax. The leaders reviewed ongoing collaborations and explored new avenues for cooperation in counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism, cyber security, and defence training.

The April 14 meeting was part of a broader diplomatic initiative during which Seth also met Tanzania’s Vice President, Philip Isdor Mpango. He outlined India’s commitment to supporting the defence needs of the Tanzania People's Defence Force, particularly through military training, technology sharing, and increased participation in joint exercises.

One of the highlights of this engagement was the inauguration of the harbour phase of the Indian Navy’s first Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME), a multilateral naval exercise hosted aboard INS Chennai. Co-hosted by India and Tanzania, the event brought together navies from several African nations including Kenya, South Africa, and Seychelles, symbolizing a united front for maritime security and peace in the Indian Ocean region.

A concurrent Defence Expo showcased the capabilities of India’s defence industry, further cementing the potential for bilateral industrial collaboration. Seth stressed the shared vision of maritime peace and economic prosperity, describing the initiative as a new chapter in India-Africa relations.

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Beyond defence, Seth also engaged with the Indian diaspora in Tanzania, visiting religious institutions and participating in Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations. He emphasized the strong cultural ties and mutual contributions to economic development made by the Indian community in Tanzania.