New Delhi, August 17. An Indian Army contingent departed for Thailand on August 17 to participate in the 15th edition of the India-Thailand Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-XV, aimed at strengthening military cooperation and enhancing interoperability between the two countries.
The exercise will be held from August 18 to 31 at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in Surat Thani, Thailand. The previous edition was conducted at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya, in September 2025.
Both the Indian Army and Royal Thai Army will field 85 personnel each. The Indian contingent will primarily comprise troops from the 9 Gorkha Rifles, while Thailand will be represented by personnel from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division.
The company-level exercise will focus on joint operations in jungle and semi-urban terrain, with particular emphasis on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
The training programme will include field exercises, combat discussions, lectures and demonstrations, culminating in a validation exercise. The participating troops will also exchange operational experiences and demonstrate contemporary equipment and technologies used in joint operations.
Established in 2006, Exercise MAITREE serves as an important platform for the Indian and Thai armies to exchange best practices and deepen defence cooperation. The exercise is expected to strengthen mutual understanding, interoperability and camaraderie between the two forces while further consolidating the longstanding bilateral ties between India and Thailand.
