India-Maldives Joint Exercise EKUVERIN 2016 Begins: 6 Key Points

The seventh edition of India-Maldives joint bilateral EKUVERIN 2016 began at Kadhdhoo, Laamu Atoll, Maldives.

Here are few key points of this exercise:

1. The bilateral annual exercise commenced in 2009 at Belgaum, India. It is held annually, alternately in Indian and Maldives with the aim of enhancing military cooperation and interoperability between defence forces of the two countries.
2. Exercise EKUVERIN – 2016 will be the seventh edition of Joint Exercise and is in continuation of a series of joint Exercises between the Indian Army and Maldivian National Defence Force.
3. It is a 14-day platoon level joint military exercise is to conduct military training between armies of both countries.
4. The training contingents comprised of a platoon strength from BIHAR Regiment and a similar strength of the Maldivian National Defence Force. Senior military observers of both the countries will be witnessing the validation phase of the Exercise.
5. The Indian Army contingent had landed at Male International Airport on 14 Dec 2016 on a C-130 military aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
6. The previous edition of the Exercise was held at Pangode Military Station, Trivandrum, India in 2015.

   

The aim of the Joint Exercise is to acquaint both forces with each other’s operating procedures in the backdrop of amphibious and counter-insurgency/ counter-terrorism environment as also to enhance the existing military relationship between the Indian Army and the Maldivian National Defence Force.