Indian Army contingent departs for Thailand to take part in Exercise MAITREE-XV
The Indian Army has despatched a contingent to Surat Thani, Thailand, for the 15th edition of the India-Thailand joint military exercise, MAITREE-XV. The exercise is scheduled to run from August 18 to 31, according to the Ministry of Defence.
The Indian contingent, comprising 85 personnel, is drawn primarily from the 9 Gorkha Rifles. The Royal Thai Army is fielding 85 personnel from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division. The exercise is being conducted at the company level, with both armies sharing participants and resources in a combined training environment.
The focus of MAITREE-XV will be on joint counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in jungle and semi-urban terrain, operating under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. Chapter VII empowers the UN Security Council to take enforcement action to maintain or restore international peace and security, and exercises under this mandate typically involve peace-support and stabilisation scenarios.
The training programme will include field exercises, combat discussions, lectures, demonstrations and a culminating validation exercise. In addition to military drills, the contingents will exchange operational experiences and showcase contemporary equipment and technologies employed during joint operations. This enables both armies to learn from each other and refine their tactics in asymmetric and urban warfare settings.
Exercise MAITREE was instituted in 2006 as a platform for enhancing military cooperation between India and Thailand. Over the years, it has grown in scope and complexity, reflecting the deepening defence ties between the two countries. The previous edition was conducted at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya, in September 2025, and focused on similar counter-terrorism themes.
The exercise is a key component of India's defence engagement with Southeast Asian nations, aligned with the government's Act East policy. It aims to strengthen interoperability, mutual understanding and camaraderie between the Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army. Joint exercises such as MAITREE also contribute to regional stability by building trust and facilitating cooperation on shared security challenges, including terrorism and transnational crime.
Thailand has long been an important partner for India in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) framework. Both countries have periodically conducted joint military exercises, naval visits and defence dialogues. The MAITREE series is one of the most prominent bilateral military engagements, and its rotating venue — alternating between India and Thailand — allows troops to train in diverse geographical conditions.
For the Indian Army, participation in MAITREE provides an opportunity to operate alongside a fellow member of the ASEAN community and to practice combined operations in terrain that differs from the Indian subcontinent's varying landscapes. It also helps Indian troops acclimatise to humid, jungle-heavy conditions, which are similar to those encountered in counter-insurgency operations in India's northeastern states.
Joint military exercises are a cornerstone of bilateral defence diplomacy. They allow armies to build mutual trust, understand each other's procedures and develop the ability to operate in multinational environments. For India, such exercises are part of a broader strategy to engage with countries in the region and beyond, ensuring that its armed forces are prepared to respond to a range of contingencies.
The 15th edition comes at a time when both India and Thailand are enhancing their defence cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. The exercise is expected to further solidify the strategic partnership between the two nations and promote peace and security in the region.
