India and Maldives have begun a joint army training exercise that is aimed at enhancing the close military ties between the two nations. The fortnight-long exercise, codenamed Ekuverin-2012, is being held at Belgaum in Karnataka from November 12 to 25.
The exercise is to enhance the close military cooperation between the two countries, the fourth joint military training exercise between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) – EKUVERIN 2012 . A total of 45 personnel from the MNDF are taking part in the exercises along with the personnel from the Indian Army.
The bilateral annual exercises, which commenced in 2009 in Belgaum, are alternately held in India and Maldives. The aim of the exercises is to enhance the close military cooperation between the two countries.