Standing on the bridge of IOS Sagar, Kenyan Navy Major O. Olang gazed across the waters off Kochi, feeling a deep sense of familiarity. Kochi, he observed, reminded him of his bustling home port of Mombasa, thousands of kilometres across the Indian Ocean. But it was not just a geographic resemblance—the camaraderie on board this multinational vessel underscored a shared vision: fostering regional maritime cooperation through collective strength.
Originally INS Sunayna, commissioned into the Indian Navy on October 15, 2013, IOS Sagar is now at the forefront of India's expanding maritime diplomacy. Renamed and repurposed for a special mission under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maritime outreach policy, IOS Sagar marks a significant step forward from SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region) to MAHASAGAR—Mutual And Holistic Advancement for Security And Growth Across Regions.
Commodore Abraham Samuel of the Indian Navy explained that this evolution demonstrates India's sustained commitment to maritime diplomacy. Through MAHASAGAR, he noted that India aims to move beyond immediate neighbours to engage the larger Indian Ocean Rim and Indo-Pacific countries.
Aboard IOS Sagar, 44 naval personnel—including 12 officers and 32 sailors from Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Tanzania—are receiving specialised training from the Indian Navy. This collaborative training covers watchkeeping duties, maritime surveillance, damage control, firefighting, and specialised maritime security operations, providing hands-on experience crucial for regional security.
Inspector SKC Rambhojun of the Mauritius National Coast Guard highlighted the value of repeated interactions, noting that his multiple training deployments with the Indian Navy have consistently deepened mutual trust and cooperation.
India’s maritime pivot began a decade ago, articulated by Prime Minister Modi during a landmark visit to Mauritius in 2015. Initially focused on cooperation with immediate neighbours, SAGAR has expanded strategically through initiatives like the Information Fusion Centre-Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) at Gurgaon, which coordinates intelligence-sharing against piracy, smuggling, and maritime threats in close partnership with regional centres in Madagascar and Seychelles.
The Indian Navy has consistently acted as a first responder and security provider, which is evident from operations such as the daring rescue of MV Ruen from Somali pirates by INS Kolkata and firefighting aboard MT New Diamond near Sri Lanka. Even humanitarian initiatives such as Mission SAGAR, which saw INS Kesari delivering critical COVID-19 vaccines to island nations, highlight the Navy’s commitment to maritime security and humanitarian assistance.
The IOS Sagar deployment, set to begin on April 5 from Karwar and scheduled to culminate at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, embodies India's expanded diplomatic vision. The voyage will feature port calls at Male (Maldives), Port Victoria (Seychelles), Port Louis (Mauritius), and Nacala (Mozambique), each reinforcing bilateral ties and regional cooperation.
At Dar es Salaam, IOS Sagar's multinational crew will participate in the inaugural Africa India Key Maritime Engagement Exercise (AIKEYME), co-hosted by the Tanzanian Navy and the Indian Navy. Scheduled for mid-April, AIKEYME aligns with the Gandhinagar Declaration (November 2022), emphasising maritime security cooperation with Africa.
The exercise involves naval assets from India, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa, alongside observers from Comoros, Djibouti, Eritrea, Mauritius, Madagascar, and Seychelles. Drills will encompass anti-piracy operations, helicopter manoeuvres, search and rescue exercises, and coordinated information sharing.
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, scheduled to inaugurate the AIKEYME exercise in Tanzania, emphasises its strategic importance and highlights that it marks a new chapter in India's maritime outreach, fostering interoperability and collective maritime security.
As IOS Sagar sails across the Indian Ocean, its multinational crew embodies a powerful message—transforming shared waters into regions of shared security and prosperity. India’s maritime vision, evolving steadily from SAGAR to MAHASAGAR, promises to redefine regional cooperation and strengthen bonds across the Global South.