India’s new military diplomacy initiative, with a visit to the port of Djibouti by the Indian Navy training ship INS Tarangini.
The visit lasted from Oct. 23-25 as part of the mission called Lokayan 2022 and included joint exercises with the Djibouti Coast Guard, as well as tours for the public and meetings between Indian and Djiboutian officers (https://indiannavy.nic.in/content/ins-tarangini-departs-djibouti-0).
India’s interest in the Horn of Africa region and the Red Sea is demonstrated by its repeated naval missions and the constant presence of its units in the area, which is considered vital for the protection of maritime flows affecting the Indian subcontinent.
India’s interest is accompanied over the past few years by a concomitant increase in military diplomacy initiatives by Pakistan’s naval forces as well, which have been touching the major ports in the Horn of Africa and Red Sea with increasing frequency.
