INDIAN ARMY CONTINGENT DEPARTS FOR INDIA-THAILAND JOINT MILITARY EXERCISE MAITREE-XV - 17th August 2026 - Ministry of Defence - Gazette Notification PDF
Issued by Ministry of Defence
Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Defence on 17th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary & Key Takeaways
The Indian Army contingent departed on August 17, 2026, for Thailand to participate in the 15th edition of the India-Thailand Joint Military Exercise, MAITREE-XV (2026). The exercise is scheduled to take place from August 18 to 31, 2026, at the Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in Surat Thani, Thailand. This follows the previous edition held in September 2025 at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya.
Key Participants and Metrics:
- Contingent Size: 85 personnel each from the Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army.
- Indian Army Representation: Primarily troops from the 9 Gorkha Rifles.
- Royal Thai Army Representation: Personnel from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division.
Objectives and Scope: The exercise focuses on company-level joint training for Joint Counter Insurgency and Terrorist Operations within jungle and semi-urban environments, conducted under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter. The program includes:
- Field exercises and a culminating validation exercise.
- Combat discussions, lectures, and demonstrations.
- Exchange of operational experiences and showcasing of contemporary equipment and technologies.
Background: Instituted in 2006, Exercise MAITREE serves as a strategic platform to enhance interoperability, sharing of best practices, and military cooperation between India and Thailand. It aims to strengthen bilateral relations and foster camaraderie between the two nations' armies.
Administrative Information:
- Release ID: 2300293
- Contact/Source: Nishant/ Rinku Singh, PIB Delhi
- Visitor Counter: 3360