Personnel from the Maldives National Defence Force, including units from the Special Forces, the Special Operations Group, the Special Boat Squadron, and the Marine Corps, have concluded their participation in a multinational military exercise in northeast India aimed at reinforcing security ties across the Indian Ocean region.
The joint manoeuvres, formally termed the Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region, or Exercise PRAGATI 2026, were conducted from 18 to 31 May at the Umroi Military Station in Meghalaya, India. According to the stated objectives, the training focused on enhancing cooperation in counter-terrorism operations and peacekeeping efforts, whilst seeking to reinforce broader regional security within the Indian Ocean.
The operational drills involved a total deployment of more than 400 soldiers representing 13 different nations. Comprising this international coalition, alongside the armed forces of the Maldives, were military contingents from India, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, the Philippines, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Vietnam.
The training programme was brought to a close with a 72-hour validation exercise, which successfully demonstrated the capacity for joint operations among the participating allied countries.