New Delhi: The 14th edition of the Joint Military Exercise EKUVERIN between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) commenced in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, today, marking a fresh chapter in bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries. The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 02 to 15 December 2025 at the Thiruvananthapuram military station and surrounding training areas.
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An Indian Army contingent of 45 personnel, represented by a battalion of the GARHWAL RIFLES, is participating in the exercise alongside an equal-strength Maldivian contingent from the MNDF. EKUVERIN in Dhivehi translates to ‘Friends’, underscoring the deep-rooted bonds of friendship, mutual trust and military cooperation between the two nations. Conducted alternately in both countries since 2009, Exercise EKUVERIN continues to be showcased as a key manifestation of India’s Neighbourhood First policy and its commitment to building enduring defence partnerships with friendly nations.
The two-week-long engagement aims to enhance interoperability and operational synergy in Counter-Insurgency and Counter-Terrorism operations across jungle, semi-urban and coastal terrain. The exercise will see troops from both sides share best practices, tactical drills and joint operational planning to strengthen their collective capability to respond to common security challenges in the region. The training curriculum is designed to enable soldiers to operate together in realistic scenarios that mirror contemporary threats in the wider Indian Ocean Region.
During the course of the exercise, mixed teams from the Indian Army and MNDF will participate in mission-oriented training modules, including room intervention, cordon-and-search operations, convoy protection, and coastal area security tasks tailored to island and littoral environments. The focus on small-team tactics, coordination and communication aims to build confidence and mutual understanding at the tactical level, while also fostering camaraderie between the contingents.
Exercise EKUVERIN reflects the growing defence cooperation and mutual commitment of India and the Maldives towards regional peace and stability in the Indian Ocean Region. By sustaining this annual engagement, both nations signal their shared resolve to work together against terrorism, insurgency and other non-traditional security threats, while further deepening military-to-military ties and strategic trust.
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