India-Thailand Joint Military Exercise MAITREE-XV 2026

India and Thailand will strengthen their military cooperation through Exercise MAITREE-XV 2026, it will be the 15th joint military exercise between the two nations. The Indian Army team flew out to Thailand on August 17, 2026, for Exercise MAITREE-XV 2026, which will take place from August 18 to 31 at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in Surat Thani, Thailand. With 85 participants from both countries, the exercise will entail joint counter-insurgency and counter-terror operations in the jungle and semi-urban environment.

When and Where Will MAITREE-XV 2026 Take Place?

Exercise MAITREE-XV 2026 is scheduled for August 18th to 31st, 2026, at Vibhavadi Rangsit Camp in Surat Thani, Thailand.

The Indian Army and Royal Thai Army will each have 85 participants. The Indian team will mainly consist of members of the 9 Gorkha Rifles, whereas the Thai team will have members of 3rd Battalion, 25th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division.

The previous edition of this exercise took place at the Foreign Training Node, Umroi, Meghalaya, in September 2025.

What Will the Two Armies Train for?

The exercise shall be conducted as a joint exercise at the company level to conduct operations in difficult jungle and semi-urban areas.

Some of the key training events will be,

Field training exercises
Combat discussions
Lectures and demonstration
Operational experience exchange
Exhibition of modern military hardware and technology
A final validation exercise

The exercise will specifically improve the abilities to conduct joint counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations under UN Chapter VII.

History of Exercise MAITREE

Exercise MAITREE is a military training exercise held by India and Thailand that was set up in 2006 as an important platform for military cooperation between the two countries.

Since then, the exercise has been giving both armies an opportunity to exchange best practices and joint training.

This 2026 edition is specifically focusing on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations in jungle and semi-urban areas.