The bilateral military exercise Ex Ekuverin, involving the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces (MNDF), concluded today in Thiruvananthapuram. This marked the end of two weeks dedicated to rigorous training and a focused joint validation exercise.
The culmination of Ex Ekuverin was overseen by Major General R D Sharma, General Officer Commanding of the BISON Division, alongside Brigadier General Abdulla Ibrahim, Commanding Officer of the College of Defence and Strategic Studies in the Maldives. Their presence, along with observer delegations from both nations, highlighted the significance of the exercise in enhancing bilateral defense cooperation.
Designed to bolster interoperability, operational synergy, and tactical coordination, Ex Ekuverin primarily focused on preparing the forces for sub-conventional conflict scenarios. The training encompassed a diverse range of counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, including cordon and search activities, room intervention drills, small team tactics, reflex firing, and close-quarter battle techniques. These modules aimed to sharpen operational effectiveness, precision, and speed.
An integral part of the exercises included amphibious drills and intelligence-led operations, enhancing real-time decision-making and joint mission planning in rapidly changing environments. Maldivian troops gained hands-on experience in handling explosives, demolition techniques, and advanced fieldcraft, significantly upgrading their capabilities for threat neutralization and the security of sensitive areas.
The validation exercise successfully assessed the accomplishment of all predetermined training objectives. Senior officers from both sides expressed their satisfaction with the exceptional levels of professionalism, coordination, and proficiency demonstrated by the participating soldiers.
Ex Ekuverin reinforced the mutual dedication of India and the Maldives to furthering professional military cooperation, aiming to foster peace, stability, and security within the Indian Ocean Region.
