Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General NS Raja Subramani has reached Tanzania for a three-day official visit, highlighting India’s continued efforts to strengthen its defence partnership with the East African nation. The visit is expected to provide an opportunity to advance military engagement and explore further areas of cooperation between the armed forces of both countries.
India and Tanzania have developed a longstanding defence relationship supported by military training programmes, institutional exchanges and cooperation in maritime security. General Raja Subramani’s visit comes as both countries continue to expand their engagement across traditional defence areas as well as emerging security domains.
The foundation of bilateral defence cooperation was established through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed in October 2003. Since then, the two countries have developed several mechanisms to promote military exchanges, professional training and defence collaboration. The Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) plays an important role in reviewing existing initiatives and identifying opportunities for further cooperation.
The fourth meeting of the India-Tanzania JDCC took place in Zanzibar from February 2 to 4, 2026. Discussions during the meeting covered military training, service-to-service engagement, maritime security and defence industry cooperation. Both sides also examined opportunities to expand collaboration in counter-terrorism, peacekeeping training, electronic warfare, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Military medicine was identified as another potential area for cooperation, while the two countries agreed to initiate engagement between their respective air forces.
A five-year roadmap for defence cooperation, signed during the second JDCC meeting in Arusha in June 2023, provides a framework for advancing these initiatives. The roadmap reflects the shared interest of India and Tanzania in developing closer institutional links between their defence establishments.
Military education and capacity building remain important elements of the relationship. Tanzanian defence personnel receive training at various Indian military institutions, while an Indian Military Training Team has been stationed at Tanzania’s Command and Staff College in Arusha since December 2017. This arrangement supports professional military education and facilitates the exchange of operational knowledge and experience.
Maritime security is another significant dimension of India-Tanzania defence engagement. Both countries have developed naval cooperation through ship visits, joint activities and hydrographic assistance. In April 2025, India and Tanzania co-hosted the first Africa India Key Maritime Engagement (AIKEYME), bringing together participating African countries to promote coordination and cooperation in maritime security. The Indian Navy ship INS Trikand also visited Dar es Salaam from April 3 to 6, 2026, where it conducted joint activities with the Tanzanian Navy.
Tanzania’s geographical position along the eastern African coastline gives it an important place in the wider Indian Ocean security environment. For India, stronger defence relations with Tanzania contribute to its broader engagement with African partners and efforts to promote maritime cooperation, regional stability and security capacity building.
General NS Raja Subramani’s visit therefore comes at a time when India and Tanzania are seeking to build on their established defence cooperation framework. His engagement with the Tanzanian defence establishment is expected to support continued dialogue and provide further momentum to the military relationship.
The three-day visit also underlines India’s wider approach towards strengthening defence partnerships with friendly countries in Africa. Through military training, institutional cooperation and maritime engagement, New Delhi continues to develop its defence relationships across the region, with Tanzania remaining an important partner in these efforts.