The Indian Army contingent has departed for Thailand to participate in the 15th edition of the India-Thailand Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-XV (2026). The exercise is scheduled to commence on August 18 and will continue until August 31.
According to the Defence Ministry, the exercise is designed to strengthen military cooperation between India and Thailand while improving the ability of both armies to conduct joint operations.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Indian Army contingent has departed for Thailand for Exercise MAITREE-XV 2026.
The exercise is the 15th edition of the India-Thailand joint military exercise. Training will begin on August 18 and continue until August 31.
Both armies will deploy 85 personnel each. Indian troops will be represented primarily by 9 Gorkha Rifles.
Thai troops will come from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division. Training will focus on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations.
Jungle and semi-urban environments will form the main operational focus. The programme includes field exercises, lectures, demonstrations and a validation exercise.
The training will focus particularly on Joint Counter Insurgency and Counter Terrorist Operations in jungle and semi-urban environments. These operations will be conducted under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.The exercise will include field training exercises, combat discussions, lectures, demonstrations and a final validation exercise designed to assess the operational capabilities developed during the training.
The participating troops will also exchange operational experiences and demonstrate contemporary equipment and technologies used during joint military operations.
The Indian Army and Royal Thai Army contingents will each comprise 85 personnel. The Indian contingent will be represented primarily by troops from the 9 Gorkha Rifles, while the Royal Thai Army contingent will comprise personnel from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division.The exercise will involve company-level joint training, with particular emphasis on operations in jungle and semi-urban terrain.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
Exercise MAITREE-XV strengthens military-to-military cooperation between India and Thailand while improving the ability of their forces to operate together. The joint training also gives troops practical experience in challenging jungle and semi-urban environments, while helping both sides improve interoperability and share lessons from their respective operational experiences.
The Defence Ministry said the exercise will provide both armies with an opportunity to share operational experiences, improve interoperability and strengthen their ability to respond jointly to complex security challenges.
The previous edition of Exercise MAITREE was conducted at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya, in September 2025.
