New Delhi: Deputy National Security Adviser (NSA) Vikram Misri visited Tanzania this week to strengthen defence ties with one of India’s key partners in Eastern Africa and Indian Ocean Region (IOR) through measures including export of defence products.

The two sides decided to boost bilateral defence ties, including capacity building, meeting Tanzania’s defence requirements from India, besides agreeing to enhance maritime security cooperation, said officials.

Security partnership was a key element of Misri’s talking points with the top leadership of Tanzania, which has a long coastline along the Indian Ocean Region, where India has been a net security provider.

The Indian Ocean is the most important part of India’s emerging maritime strategy, and in the quest to secure its interests in the strategic ocean, India aims to expand its security profile in East Africa. In the past few years, Mozambique has emerged as a key security partner for India in the region.

Misri’s visit comes in the backdrop of efforts by China to build more overseas military bases in the Indian Ocean Region. India has traditionally enjoyed close political relations with Tanzania. From the 1960s to the 1980s, the political relationship involved shared commitments to anti-colonialism, non-alignment as well as South-South Cooperation and close cooperation in international fora.