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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.

Objectives

• 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.

This joint exercise is a crucial element of defense diplomacy, reinforcing security cooperation and preparedness for emerging threats in the region.

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