India, Maldives begin 14th edition of military exercise ‘Ekuverin’

• The 14th edition of the annual bilateral exercise ‘Ekuverin’ between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces began at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

• It will conclude on December 15. 

• The exercise aims to enhance interoperability while carrying out counter insurgency/counter terrorism operations in semi-urban, jungle and coastal terrain. 

• It focuses on integration of niche technology to enhance interoperability while sharing best practices, reflecting the shared commitment of India and Maldives towards peace and security in the region, while further deepening defence cooperation, camaraderie and mutual trust between both the armies.

• The exercise reflects the shared commitment of both India and the Maldives toward promoting peace and security in the Indian Ocean Region.

• Ekuverin is one of the three key joint exercises between India and the Maldives, conducted annually on an alternating basis in both countries.

• ‘Ekatha’ is joint, annual naval exercise.

• ‘Dosti’ is biennial trilateral Coast Guard exercise between India, Maldives and Sri Lanka.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)