Exercise: NATO and India Launch Major Military s

By Vikram Nair / 11.03.2026

NATO Begins Cold Response Exercise

NATO commenced its biennial Arctic military exercise named Cold Response on March 9, 2026, with approximately 25,000 troops from 14 nations participating. The exercise, which will run until March 19, aims to enhance military readiness and cooperation among member states.

The United States is expected to deploy around 4,000 troops for these drills, underscoring its commitment to NATO’s collective defense strategy. This exercise follows the NATO mission Arctic Sentry, launched to ease tensions over Greenland during the Trump administration.

India and Seychelles Conduct Lamitiye

On the same day, India and Seychelles kicked off the 11th edition of their military exercise, known as Lamitiye, which translates to ‘friendship’ in the Creole language. This iteration of the exercise will conclude on March 20, 2026, and marks the participation of all three branches of the Indian Armed Forces.

Exercise Lamitiye has been a biennial training event in Seychelles since 2001, aimed at strengthening defense ties between the two nations. The collaboration reflects India’s growing strategic partnerships in the Indian Ocean region.

Concerns in Belagavi

In a separate development, BJP MLA Abhay Patil raised concerns regarding the Election Commission of India’s electors mapping exercise in Belagavi. He stated, “I think only around 20% of the names have been mapped in the last three months in Belagavi city,” highlighting significant gaps in the process.

Patil further noted that approximately 60,000 names have been omitted from the first round of mapping in the Belagavi South constituency, calling the situation “unacceptable.”

As these military exercises unfold, observers are keenly watching the outcomes and implications for international defense cooperation and regional stability.