Recently on 12 August 2024, the 10th edition of the joint military exercise Mitra Shakti between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army started at the Sri Lankan Army Training School, Maduru Oya. This joint military exercise is being conducted from 12 to 25 August 2024. This is the 10th edition of the Mitra Shakti military exercise. Its last edition was held in November 2023 in Pune city of India. In this, 106 soldiers of Rajputana Rifles are participating from India, while soldiers of Gajaba Regiment are participating from the Sri Lankan Army.
India-Sri Lanka Joint Military Exercise Mitra Shakti
- “Mitra Shakti” is an important military exercise aimed at strengthening bilateral military cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.
- This exercise started in the year 2012 and is held every year, with India and Sri Lanka hosting it alternately.
- The conduct of joint military exercise Mitra Shakti is based on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban environments, thereby enhancing the tactical capabilities of the armies of both countries and strengthening defence cooperation.
Main objective and activities of Exercise Mitra Shakti
- Strengthening military relations: The main objective of this exercise is to strengthen India’s military relations with the Sri Lankan Armed Forces. It is an important step towards a strong and coordinated military partnership between the two countries.
- Counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations: Mitra Shakti is based on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban areas. Its objective is to enhance the capabilities to conduct anti-terrorist operations in urban areas.
- Tactical activities: During this joint exercise, activities such as counter-terrorist action, establishment of joint command post, establishment of intelligence and surveillance center, security of helipad/landing site, entry and exit of small parties, special heliborne operations, cordon and search operations, and use of drones and counter-drone systems are included.
- Enhancing Military Capability: This exercise enhances the joint military capabilities of the armies of both the countries, especially in urban and semi-urban areas. It enables both the armies to conduct joint operations.
- Operations under United Nations Mandate: This exercise focuses on enhancing the joint military capability of both sides to conduct counter-terrorism operations in sub-conventional scenario under Chapter VII of the United Nations Mandate. The main focus of this exercise is to enhance the capabilities to counter terrorist activities in semi-urban areas.
- Sharing of Best Practices: Mitra Shakti enables both sides to share best practices in tactics, techniques and procedures for conducting joint operations.
- Developing mutual harmony and peace through inter-operational activities: This exercise helps to develop inter-operational activities, harmony, mutual peace and cooperation between the two armies, thereby further promoting strengthening bilateral relations. “Mitra Shakti” is an important bilateral military exercise which plays an important role in promoting strategic cooperation and friendship between the armies of India and Sri Lanka. Focused on counter-terrorism operations in semi-urban areas, this exercise strengthens the military capabilities of both the armies and prepares them for joint operations. Through this, defense relations and partnerships between the two countries are also strengthened, which contributes to regional security and stability.
Importance of Sri Lanka for India
- Sri Lanka is an island country located in the Indian Ocean, located in the southwest of the Bay of Bengal and southeast of the Arabian Sea in South Asia. It is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait and shares a maritime border with India and the Maldives.
The importance of Sri Lanka for India extends to many important areas. Which are as follows
Geographical importance
- Sri Lanka’s geographical position is important in the Indian Ocean. Its position is on the major sea routes of South Asia, which is important for India from a strategic point of view. Being located near Sri Lanka’s maritime border and the Palk Strait, it is important for India from a trade, defense and strategic point of view.
Economic relations
- Economic relations between India and Sri Lanka are strong. India is Sri Lanka’s third largest export destination after the US and the UK. More than 60% of Sri Lankan exports benefit from the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Through this agreement, trade and economic cooperation between the two countries increases, which is helpful in the economic growth of both. Indian energy, infrastructure, and tourism-related companies have invested in various sectors in Sri Lanka.
Regional cooperation
- India and Sri Lanka are members of regional organizations such as BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) and SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation). Through these organizations, strategic, economic and cultural cooperation between the two countries is promoted. On the platform of BIMSTEC and SAARC, India and Sri Lanka have cooperated with each other on various issues, including mutual security, regional development and human rights.
Defense and Security Cooperation
- Various joint exercises are conducted between the Indian Army and the Sri Lankan Army, which promote defense and security cooperation in addition to professional cooperation between the two armies. These joint exercises take place in areas such as counter-terrorism operations, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, UN peacekeeping, high altitude operations, desert warfare, urban warfare, and jungle warfare. The complexity of these exercises has been increased by incorporating realistic situations like the latest warfare exercises, drone warfare, and gray zone warfare.
Major Joint Exercises
- Mitra Shakti: It is a bilateral military exercise between India and Sri Lanka, which focuses on counter-terrorism operations and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR).
- SLINEX: It is a joint naval exercise between the Indian and Sri Lankan Navies, which promotes maritime security and cooperation.
Cultural and Historical Ties
- The cultural and historical ties between India and Sri Lanka are very old. Buddhism spread from India to Sri Lanka, and religious and cultural exchanges continue between the two countries even today. The Tamil community, which forms a significant part of Sri Lanka’s population, shares deep cultural ties with the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. This cultural connection strengthens mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries.
Maritime Security
- Sri Lanka’s sea routes are important for maritime security in the Indian Ocean. Maritime security cooperation between India and Sri Lanka helps both countries combat problems such as piracy, terrorism, and smuggling. It is an important element for regional security, which is part of India’s security strategy.