News: Exercise EKUVERIN has commenced in Thiruvananthapuram, India.
About Exercise EKUVERIN
- EKUVERIN is a bilateral joint military exercise between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF).
- The term “EKUVERIN” comes from the Dhivehi language and means “Friends”, symbolising mutual trust and friendship.
- The exercise has been conducted annually since 2009, held alternately in India and the Maldives.
- This is 14th edition of the exercise, which has commenced on December 2, 2025 till December 15, 2025.
- Participation: Both sides have deployed 45 personnel each, the Indian contingent coming from a Garhwal Rifles battalion.
- Aim: To enhance interoperability, coordination, and mutual understanding between the two armies.
- Major components include: Tactical drills, Joint mission planning, Exchange of best operational practices and improving small-team coordination.
- Training will focus on counter-insurgency (CI) and counter-terrorism (CT) operations.
- Drills are designed to simulate operations in jungle, semi-urban, and coastal terrain.
- EKUVERIN-14 reinforces India’s Neighbourhood First policy and highlights New Delhi’s commitment to defence cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
- Significance: The exercise underscores the shared commitment of both nations to regional peace, stability, and maritime security. It also strengthens strategic ties amidst growing security challenges in the region.
