Article Posted on : - Nov 13, 2012

A file photo.

NEW DELHI (PTI): Personnel from the Indian Army and Maldives National Defence Force will hold a joint military exercise in Karnataka later this month.

This will be the fourth joint military training exercise between the Indian Army and the Maldives defence force.

'Ekuverin 2012' will be held in Belgaum, Karnataka from November 12 to 25, a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs said here.

A total of 45 personnel from the Maldivian forces will take part in the exercise.

The bilateral annual exercise, which commenced in 2009 in Belgaum, is held in India and Maldives alternately. The aim of the exercise is to enhance military cooperation between the two countries.

In April, the two countries along with Sri Lanka held joint Coast Guard/Naval exercises off the coast of Male. The latest exercise comes close on the heels of the visit of Defence Minister A K Antony to Male in September.