Defence Forces from India and the Maldives participating in Ekuverin, the joint military exercise between India and Maldives. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The 14th edition of the Joint Military Exercise, EKUVERIN, between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) commenced on Tuesday (December 2, 2025) in Thiruvananthapuram.
The Ministry of Defence informed that the bilateral training engagement, scheduled from December 2 to 15, brings together a 45-member Indian Army contingent from a Garhwal Rifles battalion and an equal-strength MNDF contingent.
Derived from the Dhivehi word for “Friends”, EKUVERIN symbolises the longstanding bonds of trust, friendship, and military cooperation between India and the Maldives. The exercise, held alternately in both countries since 2009, remains a cornerstone of India’s neighbourhood first policy and underlines New Delhi’s commitment to strengthening defence partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region, it added.
‘Enhance interoperability’
It further said that over the next two weeks, troops from both nations will engage in joint training to enhance interoperability and operational synergy in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism (CI/CT) operations across jungle, semi-urban, and coastal terrain. The exercise will include tactical drills, joint mission planning, and exchange of best practices, aimed at improving coordinated responses to shared security challenges.
EKUVERIN-14 highlights the expanding defence cooperation between India and the Maldives and reaffirms their shared commitment to regional peace, stability and maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region.
Published – December 02, 2025 10:32 pm IST
