India, Tanzania Agree on Enhanced Air Force Cooperation

• India and Tanzania agreed to enhance defence cooperation, including initiating air force collaboration
• New areas such as counter-terrorism, military medicine, cyber, AI, and peacekeeping were discussed
• The partnership continues under a structured five-year defence cooperation roadmap

The defence relationship between India and Tanzania has been strengthened through their search of various ways to work together during their main diplomatic meeting which took place last week. The officials discussed ways to improve military training, maritime security, and new defence technologies through enhanced partnership between the two nations.

The two nations established their first agreement to work together through air force partnership which built upon their current naval and army cooperative relationship. The fourth meeting of the India-Tanzania Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) took place in Zanzibar from February 2 to 3, providing a platform to review ongoing initiatives and identify new areas of engagement.

The two nations studied their current defence partnership while exploring new areas of military training, inter-service relations, maritime security and defence industrial partnership.

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The two delegations also examined opportunities in counter-terrorism, peacekeeping training, and capacity building in niche and future-oriented fields, including electronic warfare, cyber security, and artificial intelligence, with the objective of further deepening bilateral defence relations.

The military medicine field shows potential for new partnerships because both sides wish to develop both practical and humanitarian aspects of their defense cooperation. The Indian delegation included Joint Secretary (Defence Cooperation) Amitabh Prasad and senior officials from the Department of Defence and the Indian armed forces.

Ibrahim Mhona who serves as Chief of Operations and Training of the Tanzania People’s Defence Force directed the Tanzanian delegation. India's High Commissioner to Tanzania Bishwadip Dey attended the official meeting. The two nations established a five-year roadmap which governs their defence cooperation because they share a strong and strategic relationship.