The Indian Army contingent departed yesterday for the 13th edition of Exercise MAITREE, a joint military exercise with Thailand. Scheduled from July 1st to 15th, 2024, the exercise will take place at Fort Vachiraprakan in Tak Province, Thailand. The previous edition occurred in Umroi, Meghalaya, in September 2019.
The Indian Army’s 76-member contingent is primarily from the LADAKH SCOUTS, alongside personnel from other units. Similarly, the Royal Thailand Army contingent also consists of 76 personnel, mainly from the 1st Battalion, 14 Infantry Regiment of the 4th Division.
About the Exercise
Exercise MAITREE aims to enhance military cooperation between India and Thailand. It focuses on joint counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in jungle and urban settings, aligning with Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. Key activities will include joint planning, tactical drills, and physical fitness exercises.
Tactical drills during the exercise will cover a range of operations. These include creating a Joint Operation Centre, setting up an Intelligence and Surveillance Centre, deploying drones and counter-drone systems, securing landing sites, and conducting small team insertion and extraction. Additionally, special heliborne operations, cordon and search operations, room intervention drills, and the demolition of illegal structures will be practiced.
Exercise MAITREE will facilitate the sharing of best practices in tactics, techniques, and procedures for joint operations. It aims to develop interoperability and foster camaraderie between the soldiers of both nations, strengthening the military ties between India and Thailand.