Indian Army Heads To Thailand For MAITREE-XV Joint Military Exercise

The Indian Army has departed for Thailand to take part in the 15th edition of the India Thailand Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-XV, which begins on August 18 and will continue until August 31.

The exercise will be held at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in Surat Thani, Thailand. It will focus on company level joint training for counter insurgency and counter terrorism operations in jungle and semi urban areas. The exercise is being held under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.

India and Thailand will each send 85 personnel. The Indian contingent is made up mainly of troops from the 9 Gorkha Rifles, while the Royal Thai Army team includes personnel from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division.

The training will include field exercises, combat discussions, lectures and demonstrations. The troops will also share their experience of joint operations and showcase equipment and technology used by their armies. A final validation exercise will test the skills developed during the training.

MAITREE was first held in 2006 and is part of the regular military exchange between India and Thailand. The exercise is held alternately in the two countries, with the previous edition taking place in India.

MAITREE-XIV was held from September 1 to 14, 2025, at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya. That exercise involved 120 Indian soldiers and 53 Thai troops. It focused on tactical drills, joint planning and counter terrorist operations.

The previous edition ended with a 48 hour validation exercise that included setting up a temporary operating base, intelligence and surveillance tasks, village isolation, heliborne operations, raids and hostage rescue. Both armies also displayed new generation equipment. Officials said the exercise helped the troops understand each other's operational procedures and combat drills.

The latest edition is expected to build on that experience by improving interoperability, coordination and mutual understanding between the two armies. It also strengthens the long standing defence partnership between India and Thailand.