Archive · 17 Aug 2026
India, Thailand Begin Joint Military Exercise Maitree on August 18
India and Thailand are two countries that are good friends.
They are going to practice being soldiers together.
This is called a military exercise.
The exercise is named Maitree, which means friendship.
It starts on August 18 and ends on August 31.
The soldiers will train in a place called Surat Thani in Thailand.
There will be 170 soldiers in total, 85 from each country.
They will practice fighting bad guys in jungles and cities.
This helps the two armies learn to work together.
It also helps them keep people safe from terrorism.
India and Thailand will begin the 15th edition of joint military exercise Maitree in Thailand on August 18.
The exercise will run until August 31 at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in Surat Thani.
The Indian Army and Royal Thai Army have each sent 85 personnel, with 170 troops training together.
Training focuses on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations in jungle and semi-urban terrain.
The previous edition was held in Umroi, Meghalaya, in September 2025; the exercise was instituted in 2006.
- Who
- Indian Army and Royal Thai Army personnel (85 troops each)
- What
- 15th edition of joint military exercise Maitree, focused on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations
- When
- August 18 to August 31
- Where
- Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp, Surat Thani, Thailand
- Why
- To strengthen military cooperation and improve interoperability between India and Thailand
- Exercise
- Maitree (15th edition)
- Dates
- August 18-31
- Location
- Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp, Surat Thani, Thailand
- Participants
- 85 Indian Army and 85 Royal Thai Army personnel (170 total)
- Indian Contingent
- 9 Gorkha Rifles
- Thai Contingent
- 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division
- Training Focus
- Counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations in jungle and semi-urban terrain
- Previous Edition
- Umroi, Meghalaya, September 2025