India-Kenya Maritime Partnership Bolsters Security and Economic Bonds
India and Kenya Affirm Commitment to Boost Maritime Security Collaboration, Strengthening Institutional Frameworks. The 2016-established India-Kenya Joint Defence Cooperation Committee plays a pivotal role in this strategic alliance. Both nations, key players in a critical maritime region for global trade, acknowledge extensive opportunities for mutual gains in goods, services, investment, and technology. Following discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kenyan President William Samoei Ruto, the India–Kenya Joint Vision Statement on Maritime Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region, named 'BAHARI,' was unveiled.
According to the Joint Vision statement, trade facilitation measures, logistics links, and the promotion of a sustainable fishing industry are key considerations for India and Kenya. This includes collaboration in the shipbuilding industry, focusing on capacity building and co-development of defence equipment like maritime surveillance tools, offshore patrol vessels, fast attack crafts, and other essential resources necessary for Kenya’s maritime forces.
"Maritime security cooperation takes precedence, addressing issues such as piracy, armed robbery, maritime terrorism, illegal fishing, human migration, contraband smuggling, and emerging threats. Both nations acknowledge their roles in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), emphasizing the need for a comprehensive approach to maritime security", the vision document states.
In-ship visits, joint exercises, and participation in multilateral frameworks like Djibouti Code of Conduct-Jeddah Amendment (DCOC-JA) and Contact Group on Illicit Maritime Activity (CGIMA) are identified as essential elements in strengthening maritime ties, according to the document. Both nations commit to participating in regular dialogues, meetings, and information-sharing networks to address common challenges in a coordinated manner. Recognizing the potential of the Blue Economy, India and Kenya plan to finalize a Memorandum of Understanding in the Blue Economy and Fisheries Sector. This aims to harness the potential of fisheries, aquaculture, renewable energy, and marine biotechnology while promoting sustainable development and conserving marine resources.
The vision document underscores the importance of improving connectivity for trade, tourism, creative industries, and B2B linkages. Emphasis is placed on investing in and collaborating on ports to ensure the seamless flow of goods, strengthening regional connectivity. India pledges to provide capacity-building support to Kenya in areas such as oceanography, ship design and construction, dredging, welding, fisheries, port development, and research capacity. The focus is on the transfer of marine technology among research and development institutions.
The collaboration on maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region places a strong emphasis on information sharing. Both nations commit to enhancing this exchange through networks such as the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) to contribute to Maritime Domain Awareness. India extends collaboration opportunities, including providing a slot for an International Liaison Officer representing Djibouti Code of Conduct-Jeddah Amendment at IFC-IOR and assigning an Indian Naval Officer as an instructor at the Kenya Navy Training College. The comprehensive vision articulated by India and Kenya reflects a cooperative approach to maritime security, economic development, and technology transfer, further solidifying their strategic partnership in the maritime domain. This joint effort, rooted in shared interests and objectives, underscores the importance of bilateral cooperation in navigating the complexities of the maritime landscape.
