120 Indian Army Personnel To Train With 160 Troops From Cambodian Army During CINBAX-II Joint Military Drill
The Indian Army contingent comprises of 120 personnel, majorly from a Battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment. Image courtesy: X.com/@adgpi
Army troops of India and Cambodia are set to conduct a two-week joint military exercise beginning Monday (May 4, 2026) in line with deepening bilateral defence and military ties between the two nations. The Indian Army on Sunday dispatched its contingent for the second edition of the India-Cambodia Bilateral Military Exercise CINBAX-II 2026.
The exercise is scheduled from May 4 to May 17 at the Techo Sen Phnom Thom Mreas Prov Royal Cambodian Air Force Training Centre (Camp Basil) in Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia. CINBAX inaugural edition was held in Pune from December 1-8, 2024.
CINBAX II, second edition of the joint drills between Indian and Cambodian Army comes at a time of evolving global security challenges, with both nations seeking to strengthen their preparedness for complex and unconventional threats. Conducted under the framework of Chapter VII of the UN Mandate, CINBAX-II focuses on operations in a sub-conventional environment, reflecting real-world scenarios increasingly encountered in peacekeeping and counter-terror missions.
CINBAX II: Who is participating in the exercise?
The Indian Army contingent comprises 120 personnel, primarily from a Battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment, while the Cambodian side is represented by 160 personnel from the Royal Cambodian Army.
The joint exercise is aligned with the dynamics of counter-terrorism operations faced by UN peacekeeping forces, combining practical discussions with field-level tactical drills.
Training modules include drone operations, mortar handling and sniper tactics, culminating in a comprehensive validation exercise designed to simulate real operational conditions in semi-urban environments.
How will CINBAX-II improve military coordination?
The primary objective of the exercise is to enhance interoperability, coordination and operational synergy between the two armies. By sharing best practices and operational experiences, both sides aim to improve their ability to conduct joint missions, particularly in complex peacekeeping and counter-insurgency scenarios.
CINBAX-II underscores the steady expansion of India–Cambodia defence cooperation, which has gained momentum in recent years as part of India’s broader engagement with Southeast Asia. The exercise reflects a shared commitment to regional stability and global peacekeeping efforts, while also strengthening institutional linkages between the armed forces of the two nations.
Why do such joint exercises matter?
Joint military exercises like CINBAX-II play a critical role in preparing forces for multinational operations under UN mandates, where coordination between different militaries is essential.
They also signal deeper strategic alignment and trust, particularly in regions where security challenges are becoming increasingly complex and interconnected.
Beyond tactical training, the exercise is expected to build mutual understanding in handling regional security challenges, improve operational readiness, and reinforce defence ties.
By combining training, knowledge exchange and real-world simulation, CINBAX-II is positioned as a key platform for advancing bilateral military cooperation.
Meanwhile, the inaugural edition of Exercise CINBAX focused on enhancing trust, camaraderie and achieving desired level of interoperability between troops of both sides.
