Exercise MAITREE Details and Objectives UPSC

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Context:

The Indian Army contingent departed yesterday for the 13th edition of India- Thailand joint military Exercise MAITREE.

Details:

The exercise is scheduled to be conducted from 1st to 15th July 2024 at Fort Vachiraprakan in Tak Province of Thailand. Last edition of the same exercise was conducted at Umroi, Meghalaya in September 2019.

Key Details:

About	Exercise MAITREE is a bilateral military exercise conducted annually between the Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army. It serves as a crucial platform for strengthening military cooperation and enhancing the capabilities of both nations to address common security threats.
Participants	Indian Army Contingent: 76 personnel, mainly from a Battalion of the LADAKH SCOUTS with personnel from other arms and services. Royal Thailand Army Contingent: 76 personnel, mainly from 1st Battalion, 14 Infantry Regiment of 4 Division.
Aim	Encourage Military Cooperation between India and Thailand. Enhance combined capabilities in executing Joint Counter Insurgency/Terrorist Operations in Jungle and Urban Environments under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter.
Focus Areas	High degree of physical fitness, joint planning, and joint tactical drills. Tactical drills include o Creation of a Joint Operation Centre, o Intelligence & Surveillance Centre, o Employment of Drones and Counter Drone Systems, o Securing of a Landing Site, o Small Team Insertion & Extraction, o Special Heliborne Operations, o Cordon and Search Operations, o Room Intervention Drills, o Demolition of Illegal Structures.
Locations annually	2016 Krabi, Thailand 2017 Bakloh, Himachal Pradesh 2018 Chachoengsao, Thailand 2019 Umroi, Meghalaya.
Outcome	Sharing best practices in Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures. Enhancing inter-operability and cooperation.

Source:

https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2030153

READ ABOUT OTHER MILITARY EXERCISES- https://www.iasgyan.in/blogs/important-military-exercises-between-india-and-other-countries

PRACTICE QUESTION

In the context of growing security challenges in Southeast Asia, discuss the importance of regional military cooperation. How does Exercise Maitree serve as a model for fostering cooperation and promoting regional security?