Exercise MAITREE 2024: Strengthening India-Thailand Ties

Exercise Overview and Participants

• 13th edition of India-Thailand joint military Exercise MAITREE
• Scheduled from July 1-15, 2024, at Fort Vachiraprakan, Tak Province, Thailand
• Previous edition held in Umroi, Meghalaya, September 2019
• Aims to foster military cooperation between India and Thailand
• Aligns with Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter

Indian contingent:

• • 76 personnel, primarily from LADAKH SCOUTS
  • Additional personnel from other arms and services

Thailand contingent:

• • 76 personnel from 1st Battalion, 14 Infantry Regiment, 4th Division

Exercise Objectives and Focus Areas

• Enhance combined capabilities in joint counter-insurgency/terrorist operations
• Focus on operations in jungle and urban environments

Key areas of emphasis:

• • High degree of physical fitness
  • Joint planning
  • Tactical drills

Specific objectives:

• • Improve interoperability between Indian and Thai forces
  • Share best practices in tactics, techniques, and procedures
  • Develop camaraderie and bonhomie between soldiers of both nations

Tactical Drills and Operations

• Creation of a Joint Operation Centre
• Establishment of Intelligence & Surveillance Centre
• Employment of drones and counter-drone systems
• Securing landing sites
• Small team insertion and extraction
• Special heliborne operations
• Cordon and search operations
• Room intervention drills
• Demolition of illegal structures

An important step toward improving India and Thailand's military cooperation is Exercise MAITREE 2024. The exercise enhances both countries' overall security readiness and their bilateral relationship by emphasizing coordinated counter-insurgency operations, exchanging tactical knowledge, and fostering soldier unity.