Key Highlights
- The 13th edition of the India‑Maldives bilateral exercise ‘Ekuverin’ took place in the Maldives from 2‑15 February 2025.
- The opening ceremony featured Major General Ibrahim Hilmy, chief of the Maldives National Defence Force, and Indian High Commissioner G Balasubramanian.
- ‘Ekuverin’, meaning ‘Friends’ in Dhivehi, focuses on coordinated counter‑insurgency, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief drills at the platoon level.
- The exercise underscores a broader defence partnership that began in 1998 and includes multiple other joint drills such as Katha, Shield and Dosti.
Detailed Insights
Hosted at the Official Composite Training Center in Maafilaafushi, the 13th ‘Ekuverin’ drill continued the biennial tradition of rotating the venue between India and the Maldives. The ceremony highlighted the strategic relevance of the exercise for deepening bilateral military ties and for projecting stability across the Indian Ocean Region. Participants engaged in tactical manoeuvres, joint planning sessions and scenario‑based operations that simulated counter‑insurgency, humanitarian rescue and disaster‑relief missions. The drill also served as a platform for knowledge exchange, allowing Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF) personnel to train alongside Indian Army units, thereby enhancing interoperability and operational readiness.
Historically, the 12th edition was conducted in Chaubatia, Uttarakhand (June 2023), marking a continued trajectory of cooperation that is anchored by the 2016 Comprehensive Action Plan for Defence, regular hardware transfers and joint training programmes. Complementary exercises—Katha (naval), Shield (anti‑narcotics and maritime SAR), and Dosti (coast‑guard)—further diversify the defence portfolio, involving Sri Lanka as an additional partner in some drills.
Key Concepts
- Ekuverin: Dhivehi term for ‘Friends’; a platoon‑level, biennial India‑Maldives joint exercise launched in 2009.
- Counter‑Insurgency Operations: Coordinated actions designed to neutralise irregular armed groups, emphasising joint planning and execution.
- Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR): Collaborative efforts to provide emergency aid, medical support and logistical help during natural calamities.
- Interoperability: The capacity of distinct armed forces to operate cohesively through shared tactics, communication protocols and equipment compatibility.