Indian Army commences Joint Military exercise Maitree with Thai Army
Defence
4 min read
The Indian Army has commenced its joint military exercise Maitree with the Royal Thai Army at Fort Vachiraprakan in Tak Province of Thailand. The exercise will be held from 1 to 15 July 2024. The last Maitri exercise was held at the Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya, from 16 to 29 September 2019.
About Maitree Exercise
The bilateral Maitree exercise was started between the Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army in 2006. Since then, it has been regularly conducted between the two armies.
In the latest edition of the Maitre, 76 army personnel from the Ladakh Scouts and other divisions of the Indian Army are participating in the exercise.
The 76 personnel of the Royal Thailand Army, mainly from its 1st Battalion, 14 Infantry Regiment of 4 Division, are participating in the exercise.
Aim of the Maitree Exercise
The exercise is part of the broader effort by the Indian and Thai governments to increase mutual cooperation in the defence sector.
The exercise will boost military cooperation between the two countries and sharpen both forces' skills in counter-insurgency/counter-terrorism operations in urban and jungle environments. It will also focus on joint planning, joint tactical drills, and physical fitness.
During the joint operation, both forces will practice creating a joint operation centre, establishing an intelligence and surveillance Centre, and employing Drones and Counterdrone Systems. Both armies will also practice securing a landing site, inserting small teams for extractions, conducting special Heliborne Operations, cordon and search operations, etc.
India Thailand DefenceTies
India and Thailand share a cordial, peaceful relationship. Both the countries are maritime neighbours in the Andaman Sea.
India and Thailand signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Defence Cooperation to boost defence cooperation in 2012. Under the MoU, bilateral military exercises are held between the defence forces of the two countries.
Naval Exercise
Ex-Ayutthaya’
The first bilateral naval exercise between the Indian Navy and the Royal Thai Navy was conducted in December 2023, and it was named ‘Ex-Ayutthaya’, which means' invincible one' or' undefeatable one'.
The word Ayutthaya signifies Ayodhya in India and Ayutthaya in Thailand.
India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT)
The 36th edition of the bilateral India-Thailand Coordinated Patrol (Indo-Thai CORPAT) was held in December 2023.
The maritime patrol aircraft of both countries participate in the exercise.
The first (Indo-Thai CORPAT was held in 2005.
Air Force
The Indian Air Force conducts a joint exercise with the Royal Thai Air Force code-named Ex - SIAM BHARAT.
