Tanzania and India have traditionally enjoyed close, friendly, and cooperative relations. From the 1960s to the 1980s, the political relationship was characterised by shared commitments to anticolonialism, non-alignment
India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa in New Delhi on Friday and praised the “strong support” Tanzania has shown for the bilateral partnership between the two nations.
The leaders engaged in discussions on ways to strengthen their bilateral relationship further.
Sharing a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, “Pleased to call on PM @KassimMajaliwa_ of Tanzania, this evening in Delhi. Appreciate his strong support for our bilateral partnership. Exchanged views on how best to take them forward.”
Tanzania and India have traditionally enjoyed close, friendly, and cooperative relations. From the 1960s to the 1980s, the political relationship was characterised by shared commitments to anticolonialism, non-alignment, as well as South-South Cooperation and close cooperation in international forums.
The then-President of Tanzania, Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, was held in high esteem in India; he was conferred the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding in 1974 and the International Gandhi Peace Prize in 1995.
According to the High Commission of India in Dar es Salaam, in the post-Cold War period, India and Tanzania both initiated economic reform programmes around the same time, alongside developing external relations aimed at broader international political and economic relations, as well as establishing international business linkages and attracting inward foreign investment.
In recent years, India-Tanzania ties have evolved into a modern and pragmatic relationship, characterised by a sound political understanding, diversified economic engagement, and people-to-people contacts in the fields of education and healthcare, as well as development partnerships in capacity building, training, concessional credit lines, and grant projects.
The High Commission of India in Dar es Salaam has been operating since November 19, 1961, and the Consulate General of India in Zanzibar was set up on October 23, 1974.
Bilateral relations have been elevated to a Strategic Partnership during the State Visit of President of Tanzania, Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan, to India in 2023.
Meanwhile, Indian Navy ships INS Chennai and INS Kesari successfully carried out manoeuvring exercises and Visit, Board, Search & Seizure (VBSS) drills during the sea phase of Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025, the Indian Navy said in a statement.
According to the Indian Navy, the MARCOS team, along with the Tanzanian People’s Defence Force (TPDF) and Kenyan special forces onboard INS Chennai, took part in joint training. These exercises helped both teams improve their coordination and operational skills.
Significantly, this collaboration exemplifies and strengthens India’s strategic partnerships
In a post on social media platform X, the Indian Navy said, “#AIKEYME 25 Sea Phase #INSChennai and #INSKesari successfully conducted manoeuvering exercise and Visit Board Search & Seizure drills. The #MARCOS team alongwith #TPDF and the #Kenyan special forces onboard #INSChennai engaged in joint training exercises, allowing both teams to refine their drills and enhance their operational effectiveness. This collaboration exemplifies the spirit of jointness and strengthens India’s strategic partnerships.”
Earlier, the Ministry of Defence said in a press statement that “The Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME) 2025 was inaugurated on April 13 in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, marking a significant step in strengthening maritime cooperation between India and African nations.”
The event was attended by Dr Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Minister of Defence and National Service of Tanzania; Sanjay Seth, Minister of State for Defence; and Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff. Senior military leaders, including the Chief of Defence Force of the Tanzania People’s Defence Force (TPDF), were also present.
The Ministry added that the Indian Navy is being represented in AIKEYME by INS Chennai and INS Kesari. Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR was also present at the opening ceremony.
AIKEYME, which means “Unity” in Sanskrit, will be held over six days. Countries taking part include Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, India, and host country Tanzania.
The exercise includes a harbour phase focused on joint training against piracy and information sharing, followed by a sea phase aimed at boosting maritime security cooperation. The initiative is designed to find collaborative solutions to regional maritime issues, improve coordination among navies, and strengthen India’s ties with African nations. (ANI)
