New Delhi: India is considering strengthening defense cooperation with Tanzania to increase its strategic presence in the western Indian Ocean, according to sources familiar with the matter.
In addition to strengthening maritime cooperation, New Delhi is also interested in selling defense equipment, especially armored vehicles.
These initiatives are part of India’s broader strategy to increase its presence in the western Indian Ocean, a region vital to its maritime trade routes.
Indian Army Chief General Manoj Pande met Tanzania’s Defense Minister and senior military officials during his October visit to the East African country.
“Considering the successful holding of the Defense Exhibition in Dar es Salaam twice, on May 31, 2022 and October 2, 2023, in which several Indian defense companies participated; The two sides expressed their desire to expand cooperation in the field of defense industry. The two leaders also expressed satisfaction with the progress of cooperation between the two sides in building the capacity of Tanzanian forces and industry,” said a joint statement during the visit to India of Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan. know.
India’s concerted efforts to cooperate with countries in the region, such as Tanzania and Kenya, highlight common security concerns, such as piracy and illegal fishing.
Maritime cooperation with Tanzania, including joint surveillance exercises and hydrographic surveys, reflects India’s broader geopolitical strategy. The two sides held a joint exercise on exclusive economic zone monitoring in July this year. The number of Tanzanian soldiers training in India is likely to increase in coming years as New Delhi seeks to strengthen its defenses, the people quoted above said. China is also an additional factor in India’s influence in Tanzania, as Beijing has traditionally been the African country’s main defense partner.
India’s ambitious plan to increase defense exports to $5 billion by 2025 makes it a top choice for Tanzania, which is looking to diversify its defense partnerships and sources of equipment. military.
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