India and the Maldives are carrying out Exercise Ekuverin 2025 in Thiruvananthapuram, where troops from the Indian Army’s Southern Command are training alongside the Maldives National Defence Force in the mid-phase of a two-week programme. The 14th edition of this bilateral exercise, held from December 2 to 15, focuses on building interoperability, operational coordination and combat preparedness in amphibious and littoral environments. Conducted alternately by the two countries since 2009, the exercise has become a central pillar of Indo-Maldivian defence cooperation.
Both sides have deployed 45 personnel each, with training underway across jungle, semi-urban and coastal terrain to simulate realistic missions tied to the Indian Ocean Region’s evolving security challenges. Key components include counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism drills, small-team tactics, mission planning and joint standard operating procedure refinement. Daily interactions reflect the spirit of “Ekuverin”—meaning “Friends” in Dhivehi—highlighting the camaraderie and trust underpinning the partnership.
The Ministry of Defence has emphasised that the 2025 iteration strengthens the broader defence relationship and supports shared goals of maintaining peace and stability in the Indian Ocean. The exercise aligns with India’s SAGAR vision and its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy, reinforcing long-standing ties with the Maldives as both nations work together on maritime security, capacity building and disaster-response preparedness.
