“CINBAX-II strengthens India-Cambodia defence ties under the UN peacekeeping framework — building interoperability for the world’s most demanding peace operations.” — Indian Army
The Indian Army contingent departed on 3 May 2026 for Cambodia to participate in the second edition of the India-Cambodia Bilateral Military Exercise, CINBAX-II 2026. The exercise runs from 4 to 17 May 2026 at the Techo Sen Phnom Thom Mreas Provincial Royal Cambodian Air Force Training Centre — also known as Camp Basil — in Kampong Speu Province, Kingdom of Cambodia.
CINBAX stands for Cambodia-India Bilateral Army Exercise. Conducted under the framework of Chapter VII of the UN Mandate, it focuses on company-level joint training for operations in sub-conventional and semi-urban environments. The Indian contingent of 120 personnel is drawn primarily from the Maratha Light Infantry Regiment; the Cambodian contingent comprises 160 personnel from the Royal Cambodian Army.
📜 From CINBAX-I to CINBAX-II: How the Exercise Began
The first edition of CINBAX was held in Pune, India, in December 2024 — one of the inaugural bilateral military mechanisms between the two nations. The rotation to Cambodia for the second edition follows India’s standard alternating-host format used across most of its bilateral military exercises, ensuring both armies practise operating on unfamiliar terrain.
CINBAX-I showcased Indian defence equipment — including NEGEV light machine guns and mortar systems — to the Cambodian military, reflecting India’s strategy of linking defence diplomacy with defence exports. India also has plans to appoint a dedicated Defence Attaché in Phnom Penh in 2026, which would further institutionalise the bilateral relationship.
The CINBAX series fits within India’s broader pattern of institutionalising defence ties with Southeast Asian nations — from Garud Shakti with Indonesia (November 2024) to Harimau Shakti with Malaysia (December 2024).
Think of CINBAX like a joint training camp where Indian and Cambodian soldiers practise the same drills side-by-side — so that when both countries send troops to a UN peacekeeping mission in, say, Congo or South Sudan, they already know how each other operates. The “alternating host” rule means this year India goes to Cambodia, and next time Cambodia comes to India.
⚖️ What is Chapter VII of the UN Mandate?
Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter (Articles 39–51) empowers the UN Security Council to authorise enforcement actions — including the use of armed force — to maintain or restore international peace and security. Unlike Chapter VI (pacific settlement of disputes, which relies on consent and non-coercion), Chapter VII missions are authorised to use “all necessary means” including coercive military action against armed groups.
Most modern UN peacekeeping missions operate under Chapter VII mandates: MONUSCO (DR Congo), UNMISS (South Sudan), and MINUSMA (Mali) are key examples. These missions require troops capable of robust combat operations — counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, and protection of civilians in hostile environments. Training under a Chapter VII framework, as CINBAX does, prepares forces for the demanding operational reality of contemporary UN deployments — far beyond traditional ceasefire-observation roles.
| Feature | Chapter VI (Pacific Settlement) | Chapter VII (Enforcement Action) |
|---|---|---|
| Consent of host state | Required | Not required |
| Use of force | Self-defence only | “All necessary means” authorised |
| Mandate type | Observation, mediation, monitoring | Combat, counter-terrorism, protection of civilians |
| Example missions | UNTSO (Middle East), UNMOGIP (India-Pakistan) | MONUSCO (Congo), UNMISS (S. Sudan) |
Don’t confuse Chapter VI and Chapter VII: Chapter VI = pacific settlement (no force). Chapter VII = enforcement action (force authorised). Most current peacekeeping missions run under Chapter VII — not Chapter VI. Also: CINBAX full form is Cambodia-India Bilateral Army Exercise — the “C” comes first even though the exercise is called “India-Cambodia” in common usage.
✨ Key Training Components of CINBAX-II
CINBAX-II is structured around practical exercises building operational skills relevant to contemporary UN peacekeeping and counter-terrorism mandates:
- Tactical Drills: Tabletop discussions on counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism scenarios followed by live drills — cordon and search, raid operations, and ambush drills.
- Drone Operations: Both contingents practise drones for reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition — reflecting the shift toward unmanned systems in modern warfare.
- Mortar and Sniper Training: Indirect fire and precision-shooting skills practised jointly, building standardised technical proficiency for combined operations.
- Semi-Urban Warfare (OBUA): Operations in built-up areas — clearing structures, managing civilian presence, and executing precision actions in dense environments — the dominant scenario in active UN peacekeeping theatres.
- Validation Exercise: A comprehensive joint validation exercise culminates the training, testing combined operational efficiency under simulated mission conditions.
CINBAX-II Training — “T-D-M-S-V”: Tactical drills · Drone operations · Mortar & sniper training · Semi-urban warfare (OBUA) · Validation exercise. These 5 components cover the full spectrum of sub-conventional and peacekeeping operations.
👤 The Maratha Light Infantry: India’s Representative Regiment
The Indian contingent for CINBAX-II is drawn from a battalion of the Maratha Light Infantry (MLI) Regiment — the most senior light infantry regiment of the Indian Army, tracing its lineage to the Bombay Sepoys raised in 1768. The regiment draws recruits predominantly from Maharashtra and Marathi-speaking areas of Karnataka, with its tactical ethos rooted in the guerrilla warfare traditions of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
The regiment has extensive operational experience in counter-insurgency in Jammu & Kashmir and the Northeast, high-altitude deployments on the Siachen Glacier, and UN peacekeeping missions — including MONUSCO in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Its Regimental Centre is at Belgaum (Belagavi), Karnataka. The selection of MLI for CINBAX-II reflects the Indian Army’s practice of deploying units with direct field experience in the sub-conventional operations the exercise simulates.
🌍 India-Cambodia Relations & Act East Policy
India and Cambodia established diplomatic relations in 1952. The relationship has strategic significance under India’s Act East Policy — announced in 2014 as a successor to the Look East Policy (1992) — which drives systematic expansion of economic, strategic, and cultural ties with the Asia-Pacific region.
Cambodia is part of Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC), a sub-regional framework linking India with Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. India implements Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) in Cambodia in education, health, and water resources, and trains Cambodian diplomats at the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS) in New Delhi.
Strategically, China’s deep entrenchment as Cambodia’s primary defence partner — including Chinese-built naval infrastructure in Cambodia — makes India’s growing military engagement with Phnom Penh significant. Building an independent defence relationship aligns with India’s objective of maintaining a diverse network of Indo-Pacific partnerships.
India’s bilateral trade with ASEAN grew from $65 billion (2015) to $131 billion (2023); ASEAN accounts for 11% of India’s global trade.
Cambodia is deeply aligned with China — it hosts Chinese-built naval bases and often blocks ASEAN consensus on South China Sea issues. Yet India is building a structured military relationship with Phnom Penh through CINBAX. Is this a case of India “hedging” through Cambodia, or can military exercises genuinely shift a country’s strategic orientation over time?
📌 India’s Bilateral Exercise Network in Southeast Asia
CINBAX sits within a dense web of India’s bilateral and multilateral military exercises in Southeast Asia. Key bilateral exercises include:
- Garuda Shakti — India-Indonesia (since 2012)
- Harimau Shakti — India-Malaysia (December 2024)
- Sampriti — India-Bangladesh
- Bold Kurukshetra (armoured), Agni Warrior (artillery), SINDEX (naval) — India-Singapore
- CINBAX — India-Cambodia (since December 2024)
At the multilateral level, the ADMM Plus (ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus) framework involves India in exercises on counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance, and cybersecurity with all 10 ASEAN members plus Australia, China, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the USA.
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CINBAX stands for Cambodia-India Bilateral Army Exercise. The C (Cambodia) comes first in the acronym, even though it is commonly referred to as “India-Cambodia” in descriptive usage.
CINBAX-I, the first edition, was held in Pune, India in December 2024. CINBAX-II 2026 rotates to Cambodia, following India’s standard alternating-host format for bilateral military exercises.
Chapter VII (Articles 39–51) authorises use of force including “all necessary means” to maintain international peace and security. CINBAX trains under Chapter VII because most active UN peacekeeping missions (MONUSCO, UNMISS) operate under this mandate.
India is the world’s largest troop-contributing country to UN peacekeeping operations, with 5,901 military personnel deployed across 12 UN missions as of December 2023, per SIPRI data.
India deployed 1,373 peacekeepers to UNTAC (United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia) from 1992 to 1993, to oversee a ceasefire, disarm combatants, and monitor elections — giving CINBAX a deeper historical resonance beyond just a new bilateral exercise.
