What happened:
On December 16, 2025, the bilateral military Exercise EKUVERIN between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Forces concluded with a joint validation exercise in Thiruvananthapuram. The two-week drill focused on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations, including cordon-and-search, close-quarter battle, amphibious drills, and intelligence-led missions.
Why it matters to India:
The exercise strengthened interoperability and operational coordination with the Maldives, reinforced defence cooperation, and contributed to collective security and stability in the Indian Ocean Region.