India’s 17th battalion, the Madras Regiment, has arrived in Maldives to join the bilateral military exercise Ekuverin 2018.
Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) stated that Exercise Ekuverin 2018 will be held from 15 to 27 December at the northern area headquarters in Lh. Maafilaafushi.
Exercise Ekuverin 2018 is the 9th such bilateral military exercise and India will be represented by 45 military officers of the Madras Regiment.
The purpose of the exercise is to conduct counter-terrorist operations between the armies of both countries and acquaint them with each other’s operating procedures to enhance cooperation and hone their tactical skills.
Land and sea-based operations will be conducted this year in Maafilaafushi and in uninhabited islands of Lhaviyani atoll.
The Indian Army and MNDF have been holding Exercise Ekuverin since 2009, alternatively in India and the Maldives. Last year’s exercise was held in Belgavi, Karnataka.
