Why in news?
The Indian Army announced a new multilateral military exercise called Exercise Pragati (Partnership of Regional Armies for Growth and Transformation in the Indian Ocean Region). Scheduled between 18 May and 31 May 2026 at the Umroi cantonment in Meghalaya, the exercise will bring together armies from eleven friendly countries to promote defence cooperation and interoperability.
Background
India has long hosted bilateral exercises with individual countries. Exercise Pragati is the first multilateral drill focused on the Indian Ocean region. Fifteen nations were initially invited; eleven confirmed participation including Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines and Sri Lanka. The remaining nations declined due to logistical constraints or internal commitments.
Key objectives
- Strengthening defence ties: Joint manoeuvres, tactical training and cultural exchanges will deepen trust and understanding among regional armies.
- Showcasing indigenous defence products: An industry exhibition at the exercise venue will display India’s domestically developed weapons, drones and communication systems to potential buyers.
- Promoting stability in the region: Through combined drills and humanitarian assistance simulations, participants will learn to coordinate during natural disasters or security crises.
Significance
- First of its kind: By hosting multiple countries simultaneously, India positions itself as a security partner for smaller states in the Indian Ocean region.
- Economic opportunities: The defence expo may lead to export orders and technology collaborations, supporting the domestic arms industry.
- Soft power diplomacy: Military exchanges often translate into wider cooperation in education, disaster relief and maritime security.
Source: DD News
