Maitree exercise
Why in news?
The 14th edition of the India-Thailand joint military exercise Maitree is underway from September 1 to 14, 2025, at the Joint Training Node (JTN) in Umroi, Meghalaya.
Key Points of Maitree Exercise
- It is a bilateral annual military exercise between India and Thailand, started in 2006.
- The exercise alternates locations between the two countries.
- Focus is on counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency in urban and jungle environments.
- Training includes tactical drills like cordon and search, room intervention, special heliborne operations, and drone/counter-drone operations.
- The exercise also involves establishing joint operation centers and intelligence/shared surveillance centers.
- It aligns with UN peacekeeping mandates and regional security cooperation.
- It enhances operational interoperability, mutual understanding, and military cooperation under broader regional frameworks like ASEAN and BIMSTEC.
- The term Maitree means "friendship," symbolizing the aim of fostering goodwill and strategic partnership between the two armies.
- Improve joint operational capabilities for counter-terrorism and insurgency.
- Share tactical knowledge, techniques, and procedures between armies.
- Execute coordinated tactical drills in complex terrains.
- Enhance disaster management and humanitarian assistance roles.
- Strengthen India-Thailand defense ties contributing to Indo-Pacific regional security.
