Indian contingent arrives in Seychelles for joint military exercise Lamitiye 2026

An Indian Armed Forces contingent arrived in Seychelles on Monday for the 11th edition of the joint military exercise “Lamitiye 2026” with the Seychelles Defence Forces (SDF), which will be held at the Seychelles Defence Academy from March 9 to March 20.

“Lamitiye”, which means “friendship” in the Creole language, is a biennial training exercise that has been held in Seychelles since 2001.

Notably, the exercise will see participation from all three services of the Indian Armed Forces. The Indian contingent comprises personnel from the Assam Regiment, along with participation from the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force, including INS Trikand and a C-130 aircraft.

During the 12-day exercise, troops from both countries will jointly train, plan and execute a series of tactical drills aimed at neutralising potential threats in semi-urban settings. The exercise will also focus on showcasing new generation equipment and technologies.

Activities planned during the exercise include field training exercises, combat discussions, case studies, lectures and demonstrations. The drills will culminate in a two-day validation exercise.

According to an official statement, the exercise aims to enhance synergy in sub-conventional operations in a semi-urban environment, while strengthening cooperation and interoperability between the two sides during peacekeeping operations. Officials said the exercise is expected to strengthen bilateral military ties while enabling both sides to exchange skills, experiences and best practices. It will also contribute to developing mutual understanding and enhancing jointness between the armed forces of the two countries.