The 13th edition of the joint India-Maldives military exercise ‘Ekuverin’ is being hosted by Maldives from 2-15 February 2025. The inaugural ceremony of the 13th Ekuverin exercise between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF) was held at the Official Composite Training Center of the MNDF at Maafilaafushi in Maldives on 2 February 2025.

During the inauguration ceremony, Major General Ibrahim Hilmy, Chief of the Maldives National Defence Force, and G Balasubramanian, Indian High Commissioner, were present.

The 12th edition of the Ekuverin was held at Chaubatia in Uttarakhand from 11-24 June 2023.

About the Ekuverin Exercise

Ekuverin which means Friends in the Dhivehi language of Maldives was started in 2009 to strengthen the bilateral military ties between India and Maldives.

It is held between the Indian Army and the Maldivian National Defence Forces.

It is held alternatively in India and the Maldives.

A platoon-level contingent from both countries participates in the military exercise.

The main aim of the exercise is to enhance the ability of both the defence forces to work in coordination and partnership to conduct counter-insurgency operations and to carry out joint humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

Defence Cooperation between the two countries

India and Maldives share a close political and defence relationship. Since 1998, defence and security cooperation has been identified as a major area of cooperation between the two countries.

In 2016, a Comprehensive Action Plan for Defence was between the two countries that consolidated the defence ties between the two countries. India has gifted military hardware to the MNDF and also trained their personnel.

Regular joint bilateral military exercise is held between the defence forces of both countries to promote close ties between the armed forces personnel of both countries

Following is the list of the military exercises conducted between India and Maldives.

Military Exercise	Participants	Latest Edition
Ekuverin	Indian Army and the MNDF	13th edition in Maldives in February 2025. First edition in 2009.
Exercise Katha	Indian Navy and the Naval wing of the MNDF	The 6th edition was held in Maldives from 4th June to -3rd July 2023. The first edition was held in 2017.
Exercise Shield	Anti-narcotics and Maritime search and rescue operations, between the Indian Navy, MNDF, and the Sri Lanka Navy.	The first edition was held in 2021. It was a virtual exercise with the Indian Navy being the lead agency.
Exercise Dosti	Exercise between the Coast Guard of India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.	Started between the Indian and the Maldivian Coast Guard in 1991 as an annual exercise. The Sri Lankan Coast Guard joined in 2012. The 16th edition was held from 22-25 February 2024 near Male, Maldives.

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