An Indian Army contingent departed today for Thailand to take part in the 15th edition of the India-Thailand Joint Military Exercise MAITREE, scheduled to run from August 18 to 31, 2026, at the Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in Surat Thani. The previous edition of the biennial exercise was hosted by India at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya, in September 2025.
Both sides will field 85 personnel each. The Indian Army contingent is drawn primarily from the 9 Gorkha Rifles, while the Royal Thai Army side comprises troops from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division. Training will be conducted at the company level, with a focus on operations in jungle and semi-urban terrain.
Objectives of the Exercise
Exercise MAITREE is aimed at strengthening military cooperation between India and Thailand. This edition will focus on enhancing the two armies’ combined capability to conduct joint counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in jungle and semi-urban environments, under the framework of Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
The training program will include field exercises, combat discussions, lectures, demonstrations, and a culminating validation exercise. Troops from both sides will also exchange operational experience and showcase the latest equipment and technologies used in joint operations.
A Long-Standing Bilateral Engagement
First instituted in 2006, Exercise MAITREE has become a key platform for the Indian and Royal Thai Armies to share best practices and deepen defence ties. Over successive editions, the exercise has helped build interoperability, mutual understanding, and camaraderie between the two forces, reinforcing the broader bilateral relationship between India and Thailand.
The 15th edition is expected to further consolidate this cooperation, with both armies set to validate their joint operational readiness by the exercise’s conclusion on August 31.