Mitra Shakti: India Sri Lanka Joint Military Exercise

The seventh Indo-Sri Lanka joint military exercise was held on December 1, 2019 at Aundh military station. The main objective of the exercise is to build and promote positive relations between the countries.

The exercise is scheduled to be conducted at the Foreign Training Node in Pune between December 1 and December 14, 2019.

Highlights

The exercise aims at enhancing the interoperability of the armies when deployed as a part of the United Nations peace keeping force. During the exercise the armies will exchange their skills on counter insurgency, counter terrorism operation in rural and urban environment.

Also, the armies are to be provided with sub unit level training on counter terrorism under United Nations mandate. The exercise also focused on battle drills and field crafts.

Significance

The Mitra Shakti exercise was started in 2013 and is conducted annually as a part  of military diplomacy and interaction between the armies of India and Sri Lanka. It is important for India to maintain good relations with its neighbors in political, economic, social ways. This will also help India in implementing its Neighbourhood first Polocy. With China increasing its presence in Sri Lanka (Hambantota port), it becomes vital for India to revive and boost historical ties.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2019