Exercise Maitree XV: Indian Army Gorkha troops head to Thailand for joint jungle warfare exercise

New Delhi: Indian and Thai army troops will train together in jungle and semi-urban terrain as the two countries begin the latest edition of their joint military exercise, with a focus on counterinsurgency and counterterrorism operations. The Indian Army contingent has departed for Thailand for Maitree XV, which will be held from August 18 to 31 at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in Surat Thani.

The exercise will bring together 85 personnel from each army, with the Indian contingent comprising mainly troops from the 9 Gorkha Rifles. The Royal Thai Army will be represented by personnel from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division.

The two sides will conduct company-level training designed around the challenges of operating in difficult terrain and built-up areas. The programme will include field drills, tactical discussions, lectures and demonstrations, followed by a validation exercise to assess the troops’ ability to conduct operations together.

The training program will be based on joint anti-insurgency and anti-terrorist operations in accordance with Chapter VII of the UN Charter. The soldiers from both nations will also share their experience in operations and showcase equipment used during joint operations.

This is an advanced form of Maitree XIV conducted at the Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya, in September 2025. In the previous exercise, a 48-hour validation drill was conducted which involved setting up a temporary base, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) activities, village isolation, helicopter operations, raid operations, and hostage release.

The Maitree exercise series was launched in 2006 and has since become a regular platform for military cooperation between India and Thailand.

The new version is anticipated to increase the knowledge of both the forces about the tactics and procedures of the other, thus increasing coordination among them in joint actions.