An Indian Army contingent departed for Thailand on August 17, 2026, to participate in the 15th edition of the India-Thailand Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-XV. The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from August 18 to 31 at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in Surat Thani, Thailand.
The Indian Army and Royal Thai Army will field contingents comprising 85 personnel each. The Indian contingent is represented primarily by troops from 9 Gorkha Rifles, while the Royal Thai Army contingent comprises personnel from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division.
MAITREE-XV will focus on company-level joint training aimed at enhancing the ability of both armies to conduct coordinated operations in challenging jungle and semi-urban environments.
The exercise will particularly focus on joint counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The training programme will include field exercises, combat discussions, lectures and demonstrations, followed by a culminating validation exercise to assess the capabilities developed during the training.
The participating troops will also exchange operational experiences and share best practices related to planning and conducting joint operations. The exercise will provide opportunities for both contingents to familiarise themselves with contemporary equipment, technologies and operational techniques employed by the two armies.
Exercise MAITREE was instituted in 2006 and has since evolved into an important platform for strengthening military cooperation between India and Thailand. It facilitates professional interaction, exchange of experiences and development of interoperability between the two forces.
The previous edition of the exercise was conducted at the Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya, in September 2025. The 2026 edition in Thailand will further deepen the operational understanding and cooperation developed through successive editions.
MAITREE-XV is expected to enhance interoperability, mutual understanding and camaraderie between the Indian and Royal Thai Armies. The exercise also reinforces the longstanding defence relationship between India and Thailand and contributes to strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.
