An Indian Army contingent has departed for Surat Thani in Thailand on Monday to participate in the 15th edition of the India-Thailand joint military exercise, MAITREE-XV, scheduled to be held from August 18 to 31.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the Indian Army and Royal Thai Army will field 85 personnel each in the exercise. The Indian contingent comprises primarily troops from the 9 Gorkha Rifles, while the Royal Thai Army contingent includes personnel from the 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division.

The company-level exercise will focus on joint counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in jungle and semi-urban terrain under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, the Defence Ministry said.

The training programme will include field exercises, combat discussions, lectures, demonstrations and a culminating validation exercise. The contingents will also exchange operational experiences and showcase contemporary equipment and technologies employed during joint operations.

The MAITREE exercise aims to strengthen military cooperation between India and Thailand by enhancing interoperability, mutual understanding and camaraderie between the two armies. Instituted in 2006, it has been described as an important platform for the two countries to share best practices and strengthen defence cooperation. The previous edition was conducted at the Foreign Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya, in September 2025.