Article by Dr John Mwangi Githigaro
The article reflects on India’s security outlook in the maritime space and the lessons it offers for Africa. It draws on a recent familiarisation visit to India’s defence establishments held between February 16 and March 3, 2026. This visit involved a professional familiarisation with the functioning and the roles of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force.
At the onset, India’s approach to maritime security closely aligns with the Free and Indo- Pacific vision (FOIP), which has been closely championed by Japan. Key to the FOIP and which India has been aligned to is the need to maintain a rule-based order, freedom of navigation and free trade. A key overriding goal remains safeguarding maritime security, a commonality that is also expressed in India’s 2016 Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI). The visit provided an opportunity to reflect on India’s maritime strategy ranging from Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) to the present articulated Maritime Heads for Active Security and Growth for All in the Region (MAHASAGAR), simply translated to ‘Great Ocean’. In this regard, India is leading from the front in the promotion of maritime security, economic security and capacity strengthening, particularly in maritime aspects. The centrality of safeguarding maritime security is tied to economic security, with a notable illustration that 80 per cent of crude oil, which is a key enabler of global trade, passes through the seas. Cooperation and strategic interventions are paramount across the community of nations
One key lesson learnt in the course of the visit is the collective need for the community of nations to enhance maritime security. This is particularly important in a context where traditional and non-traditional maritime threats such as climate-induced threats are escalating in the 21st century. Traditional maritime threats continue to impact the global community negatively through threats such as piracy, illegal, unregulated, and unmanaged fishing, and human trafficking. India is thus taking several notable initiatives that promote cooperation in the Western Indian Ocean, where the majority of the African countries are located. Some of the key initiatives that India is championing include the Information Fusion Centre in the Indian Ocean Region (IFC- IOR), which is providing an important information-sharing platform with African countries. This remains relevant in promoting maritime domain awareness. This underscores the interconnectedness of the world through trade and the economic security vulnerabilities that can result if maritime trade is disrupted. The ongoing US- Israel and Iran situation is a clear illustration of how geopolitics and related events can disrupt global trade in the seas. The lesson therefore is that the global community has a role to play in this regard.
A second lesson learnt in the course of my visit and which can be adapted across African nations progressively is an indigenisation approach for defence needs, including weapons manufacturing, ships and submarines’ production and their related maintenance. India is already taking this leap with multiple state and private sector companies supporting this venture both for commercial and defence requirements. The key lessons for a majority of African countries (38 out of 54 have coastlines or Islands) are the need for progressive investments in such initiatives with a mix of private sector and government involvement in this regard. India is already taking the lead, among others, working with entities such as Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and Hindustan Shipyard Limited, which boasts of several decades of experience. African countries can pick multiple lessons in this regard.
A third lesson picked up in the visit through interactions with defence officials and the private sector is the value of technological adaptation from a defence posture. India’s maritime security outlook remains keen to adapt to technologies of our time, ranging from the adoption of artificial intelligence and machine learning to drone technology. These innovative ideas are useful not only for a defensive posture but can be applied for predictive maintenance of naval assets. Through Visits to defence-aligned entities such as Bharat Electronics in Bengaluru, a demonstration was made of a coastal surveillance system that provides real-time monitoring of ocean activities. This enabled radar system helps to detect traditional maritime threats such as illegal fishing to supporting maritime rescue operations. Such technologies have been made possible by continuous research and development initiatives with cooperation across government and the private sector.
A fourth lesson is the value of joint training, exercises and capacity development for maritime personnel. India is already taking the lead with training maritime personnel from Africa and beyond. This, when combined with multi-lateral and joint exercises with foreign navies, helps to promote maritime cooperation, skills and technology transfer. This has further led to gifting of assets, training and required support that ultimately connects to aspects of regional and global cooperation in safeguarding maritime security. This approach was particularly evident in the International Fleet Review (IFR), a regular convening by the Indian Navy that offers an opportunity to showcase its capabilities while promoting shared values around maritime security with friendly foreign nations. The IFR held in February 2026 on the Visakhapatnam coast, where 74 countries’ delegations participated, showcased regional and international cooperation in the maritime domain. The IFR also saw the attendance of 19 warships, further reinforcing the value of cooperation in naval exercises.
In conclusion, India’s maritime security outlook converges with African countries’ maritime security outlook. The need to safeguard maritime trade and address maritime security threats, while adapting to available technologies to safeguard the seas. Key takeaway lessons from my trip for African countries are the need for global and regional security cooperation to address shared maritime threats, investments in indigenisation initiatives with fit-for-purpose innovations, while underscoring the value of significant prioritisation in research, development and innovations.
