The Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army are set to resume their joint military exercise Maitree in India, bringing renewed focus on counter-terrorism cooperation and regional security. The 14th edition of the exercise will be held from September 1 to 14 at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya. This year’s exercise holds special significance as it returns to Indian soil after a gap of five years. The last edition was conducted in Thailand’s Tak Province, where both sides had deployed 76 soldiers each, including India’s Ladakh Scouts and Thailand’s 1st Battalion of the 14th Infantry Regiment. The upcoming drill in Meghalaya will build on that foundation while addressing new security challenges in the region.
According to the Indian Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information, the primary aim of Maitree 2025 is to enhance operational readiness for joint counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban terrain, particularly under a United Nations mandate. The training modules will include tactical drills, room intervention techniques, use of modern surveillance equipment, and humanitarian assistance operations.
The Maitree exercise is a symbol of the growing defence partnership between India and Thailand, which extends beyond military drills to encompass broader strategic cooperation. In recent years, both nations have conducted coordinated naval patrols in the Andaman Sea, shared expertise through officer exchange programmes, and actively participated in multilateral forums addressing regional security.