The Indian Army contingent departed on August 17, 2026 for Thailand to participate in the 15th edition of the India-Thailand Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-XV. The exercise will be conducted from August 18 to 31, 2026 at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in Surat Thani, Thailand. This follows the previous edition held in September 2025 at Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya.
Each contingent comprises 85 personnel, with the Indian Army represented primarily by troops from 9 Gorkha Rifles and the Royal Thai Army represented by 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 primary aim of Exercise MAITREE is to foster military cooperation between India and Thailand and enhance combined capabilities in executing joint counter-insurgency/terrorist operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The training program includes field exercises, combat discussions, lectures, demonstrations, and a culminating validation exercise. The contingents will exchange operational experience and showcase contemporary equipment and technologies employed during joint operations.
Instituted in 2006, Exercise MAITREE serves as an important platform for sharing best practices and strengthening military cooperation between the two nations. The exercise is designed to enhance interoperability, mutual understanding, and camaraderie between the Indian and Thai Armies, further reinforcing the longstanding bilateral relations between India and Thailand.