New Delhi: India and the US will hold their bilateral Army exercise in Alaska next month. The focus of the exercise will be on launching swift and coordinated operations in high altitude areas for emergencies like natural calamities, among others, ThePrint has learnt.
While the dates are still under consideration, it is learnt that the 19th edition of the exercise, called the Yudh Abhyas, will be held in the second week of September.
According to officials in the defence and security establishment, about 150 Infantry regiments will take part from the Indian side.
The exercise, which will follow a UN mandate, will focus on humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) operations along with a few aspects of anti-terrorism operations. Troops from both nations will practice launching swift and coordinated relief efforts in case of natural calamities, the officials told ThePrint.
The annual exercise is conducted alternatively between India and the US. The previous edition was held in Uttarakhand in November 2022, close to the Line of Actual Control with China, whereas in 2021 the exercise was held in October at the Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska (USA).
This will come soon after the Malabar exercise, which will see the four Quad countries — India, US, Japan and Australia — conduct naval drills in Australian waters between 11 and 22 August. The aim of this exercise is to enhance interoperability among the four navies.
The Yudh Abhyas exercise follows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official state visit to the US in June, where, after his meeting with President Joe Biden, the two countries sought to boost bilateral ties and deepen strategic technology collaboration with a special focus on defence and technology arenas.
In fact, a week before Modi’s visit to the US, American Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin had visited India and met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to conclude a roadmap in Defence Industrial Cooperation, outlining plans for the next few years.
In recent times, India has moved closer to the West, especially the US, in order to diversify the inventory of the armed forces and in view of a rising China challenge.
India has also signed three key defence agreements with the US — the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for geo-spatial cooperation in 2020 during the 2+2 ministerial dialogue; the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) in 2018; and the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016.
(Edited by Richa Mishra)
Also Read: Indian frigate, destroyer to take part in first Malabar Exercise in Australian waters next week