India, Seychelles begin 11th ‘Lamitiye’ joint military exercise
Port Victoria (Seychelles), March 9. An Indian armed forces contingent has arrived in Seychelles to take part in the 11th edition of the joint military exercise ‘Lamitiye’ with the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF), scheduled to be held from March 9 to 20 at the Seychelles Defence Academy.
The biennial exercise, whose name means “friendship” in the Creole language, has been conducted in Seychelles since 2001 and serves as a platform to strengthen defence cooperation between the two countries.
This year’s edition marks a notable milestone as it features the participation of all three branches of the Indian armed forces. The Indian contingent includes personnel from the Assam Regiment, along with assets from the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, including the warship INS Trikand and a Lockheed Martin C‑130J Super Hercules transport aircraft.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the exercise aims to improve operational synergy in sub-conventional operations in semi-urban environments and strengthen cooperation and interoperability during peacekeeping missions.
During the 12-day exercise, troops from both sides will jointly plan and carry out a range of tactical drills designed to neutralise potential threats in semi-urban settings, while also showcasing and employing new-generation equipment and technologies.
The programme will include field training exercises, combat discussions, case studies, lectures and demonstrations, culminating in a two-day validation exercise.
The exercise is expected to enhance mutual understanding between the armed forces of the two countries and further deepen bilateral military ties through the exchange of operational experience, skills and best practices.
