About

• Exercise MAITREE is a bilateral military exercise conducted annually between the Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army.
• It serves as a crucial platform for strengthening military cooperation and enhancing the capabilities of both nations to address common security threats.

Participants

• Indian Army Contingent: 76 personnel, mainly from a Battalion of the LADAKH SCOUTS with personnel from other arms and services.
• Royal Thailand Army Contingent: 76 personnel, mainly from 1st Battalion, 14 Infantry Regiment of 4 Division.

Aim

• Encourage Military Cooperation between India and Thailand.
• Enhance combined capabilities in executing Joint Counter Insurgency/Terrorist Operations in Jungle and Urban Environments under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.

Focus Areas

• High degree of physical fitness, joint planning, and joint tactical drills.
• Tactical drills include

o   Creation of a Joint Operation Centre,

o   Intelligence & Surveillance Centre,

o   Employment of Drones and Counter Drone Systems,

o   Securing of a Landing Site,

o   Small Team Insertion & Extraction,

o   Special Heliborne Operations,

o   Cordon and Search Operations,

o   Room Intervention Drills,

o   Demolition of Illegal Structures.

Locations annually

• 2016             Krabi, Thailand
• 2017             Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh
• 2018             Chachoengsao, Thailand
• 2019             Umroi, Meghalaya.

Outcome

• Sharing best practices in Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures.
• Enhancing inter-operability and cooperation.

PRACTICE QUESTION

In the context of growing security challenges in Southeast Asia, discuss the importance of regional military cooperation. How does Exercise Maitree serve as a model for fostering cooperation and promoting regional security?