The Indian Army took part as an observer in Exercise African Lion 2025, the largest U.S.-led military exercise in Africa, marking a significant step in India’s defence diplomacy and strategic engagement with the continent. Hosted primarily in Morocco and extending to Ghana, Senegal, and Tunisia, the 21st edition of the exercise brought together more than 10,000 troops from 27 countries, including key NATO allies.
Representatives from the Indian Army’s Headquarters Army Training Command (HQ ARTRAC) and the College of Military Engineering (CME) observed a variety of advanced operational drills. Among the key highlights were the deployment and firing of the U.S. High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), capable of striking targets at distances up to 300 kilometers, and coordinated responses to chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats. Indian observers also monitored complex counter-IED scenarios, showcasing the high level of interoperability and joint operational readiness among participating forces.
African Lion 2025, which commenced on April 14 in Tunisia, included command post exercises, field training sessions, live-fire operations, and humanitarian civic assistance missions such as medical, dental, and veterinary outreach programs. These diverse activities underscored the exercise’s primary goal of enhancing readiness and building crisis response capabilities among multinational forces.
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India’s observer status in African Lion 2025 reflects its increasing commitment to building defence ties with African nations. The exercise provided an opportunity for Indian military planners to study large-scale joint operations involving hybrid warfare tactics and multinational coordination, which are increasingly relevant in contemporary security environments.
This engagement complements India’s broader strategic initiatives across Africa. Notable efforts include the India-Mozambique-Tanzania Trilateral Exercise (IMT TRILAT), capacity-building programs for African militaries, and the establishment of maritime surveillance infrastructure in the western Indian Ocean, including facilities in Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar.
India’s presence at African Lion 2025 reinforces its aspiration to be seen as a credible and capable partner in regional and global security architectures. It also sends a clear signal of India’s interest in countering growing strategic competition in Africa, particularly from China, while strengthening cooperation with Western and African partners alike.
