Chennai, Nov 7:
India and Myanmar commenced their maiden bilateral tri-services Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise, titled ‘Rahat Mitra’, in Chennai.
The two-day joint operational exercise, conducted from November 5 to 6 under the aegis of the Indian Navy, is centred on the theme “Together for Humanity, Stronger through Partnership”. The bilateral engagement brought together more than 300 personnel from the Army, Navy, and Air Force of both nations, providing an active operational platform for high-level professional exchanges, sharing tactical disaster response experiences, and enhancing interoperability during complex humanitarian relief missions.
Defence officials stated that the exercise marks a critical milestone in consolidating regional defence cooperation and bilateral maritime ties between the two neighbouring nations. The joint drill reflects India’s sustained diplomatic commitment to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and aligns directly with the strategic vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), reinforcing regional stability and shared disaster mitigation readiness across the Bay of Bengal.