Army set to hold first-ever multilateral military drill involving 11 countries from May 18 to 31 | India News
D Indian Army The foreign training node at Umroi in Meghalaya is set to host military representatives from 11 friendly nations for the inaugural edition of the multilateral exercise ‘Pragati’ from May 18 to 31.The exercise aims to strengthen defense cooperation, enhance interoperability and build mutual trust among the participating nations.According to the Indian Army, this initiative reflects a joint commitment to collective security and regional stability. In a post on X, the Additional Director General of Public Information (ADG PI) said the exercise emphasizes the importance of cooperation between regional powers.Military representatives will include troops from Laos, Myanmar, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Nepal, Maldives, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia and Bhutan.Practice centers on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations with an emphasis on joint training and defense diplomacy. It is part of India’s growing defense engagement with its neighbors and countries in the Indian Ocean region, which focuses on capabilities and shared operational capabilities.The exercise will mark a shift in Indian Army training from bilateral to consortium-style engagements.Apart from war games, a key component of the event is the two-day industrial exhibition, which showcases the capabilities of the Indian Army and promotes industrial partnerships with ASEAN countries. During exercises with foreign countries, military contingents are able to effectively showcase the capabilities of indigenously developed hardware and equipment and provide realistic hands-on experience.
