Indian Army contingent departs for Thailand to participate in joint military exercise MAITREE-XV
The Indian Army contingent has departed for Thailand to participate in MAITREE-XV, a joint exercise with the Royal Thai Army focused on counter-insurgency operations.
The Indian contingent is represented primarily by troops from the 9 Gorkha Rifles, while the Royal Thai Army contingent comprises personnel from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division.
NEW DELHI: The Indian Army contingent on Monday departed for Thailand to participate in the 15th edition of the India-Thailand Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-XV (2026), which will be conducted from August 18 to 31 at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in Surat Thani, Thailand.
The Ministry of Defence said in a statement that the Indian Army and Royal Thai Army contingents will comprise 85 personnel each. The Indian contingent is represented primarily by troops from the 9 Gorkha Rifles, while the Royal Thai Army contingent comprises personnel from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division.
The exercise will involve company-level joint training focused on operations in jungle and semi-urban terrain. The training is intended to strengthen the ability of the two forces to operate together in complex operational environments.
MAITREE-XV will focus on enhancing the combined capabilities of the two armies to conduct joint counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations in jungle and semi-urban environments under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
The exercise will include field training exercises, combat discussions, lectures and demonstrations, followed by a culminating validation exercise. The participating contingents will also exchange operational experiences and showcase contemporary equipment and technologies used during joint operations.
The previous edition of the exercise was conducted at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya, in September 2025.
Exercise MAITREE was instituted in 2006 and has since served as an important platform for military cooperation between India and Thailand. The exercise provides an opportunity for the two armies to share operational experience and best practices while developing greater interoperability.
The latest edition is expected to further strengthen mutual understanding and camaraderie between the participating forces and reinforce the longstanding defence and bilateral ties between India and Thailand.
