New Delhi: Amid heightened tensions between New Delhi and Washington, and a growing synergy between the Pakistan government and US President Donald Trump, Indian and American troops will undertake a joint military exercise next month.
Termed ‘Yudh Abhyas’, the annual exercise from 1 to 16 September in US’ Alaska will see an all-arms contingent going from the Indian Army led by the Madras Regiment, ThePrint has learnt.
The joint exercise comes at a time when Pakistan and US have come closer than ever before under the Trump administration. The US President hosting Pakistan’s army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at the White House to undertaking joint anti-terror talks with Islamabad, both sides have a long way from 2018 when Trump had described Pakistan as a “safe haven for terrorists”.
“The upcoming edition will see participation from both sides in high-altitude conditions in Alaska, a factor that adds operational complexity to the drills. Such settings will also allow troops to train in environments that mirror potential conflict zones,” said a source.
Launched in 2004 under the framework of the Indo-US defence Cooperation Agreement, ‘Yudh Abhyas’ alternates annually between locations in India and the US, with the previous edition held in Rajasthan in 2024. In the exercise, the Indian Army and US Army typically take part in tactical field training which covers counter-insurgency, counter-terrorism and peacekeeping scenarios with command post drills that focus on mission planning, joint operations and coordination under United Nations mandates.
Beyond such tactics, the exercise also serves as a platform for sharing military technology, operational best practices and disaster relief coordination methods.
Separately, India and the US are also preparing to finalise the proposed 10-year framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership, expected to be signed during the next meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth. The plan aims to expand cooperation beyond arms purchases to include co-production of systems such as the Javelin ATGMs (anti-tank guided missiles) and the Stryker combat vehicle.
Furthermore, amidst tensions with the US, the Ministry of Defence had last week dismissed media reports claiming India had paused talks for major US defence purchases. Calling such reports “false and fabricated”, MoD officials had said procurement cases “are being progressed as per the extant procedures”.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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