Despite tariff row, India-US joint military drill begins in Alaska - What is 'Yudh Abhyas 2025' and why does the timing matter?
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Despite tariff row, India-US joint military drill begins in Alaska - What is 'Yudh Abhyas 2025' and why does the timing matter?")
Despite tariff row, India-US joint military drill begins in Alaska - What is 'Yudh Abhyas 2025' and why does the timing matter? Photograph: (IndianEmbassyUS/X)
An Indian Army contingent has arrived in Alaska for Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025, a joint drill with US forces focusing on mountain warfare, heliborne ops, and UN peacekeeping readiness until 14 September.
An Indian Army contingent is in Alaska to take part in the 21st edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas, the annual India–US military drill, which will run for the course of two weeks.
The Indian Embassy in the US posted on X, “Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 begins with a grand opening ceremony at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Over the next two weeks, 450 soldiers from each side will carry out field & command post exercises and SMEs to strengthen the close military ties between the world's largest and the oldest democracies.”
What will the exercise include?
The Defence Ministry said the Indian side is represented by a battalion of the Madras Regiment. On the American side, soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment “Bobcats” of the Arctic Wolves Brigade Combat Team, under the 11th Airborne Division, are taking part.
The two-week training will cover:
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• Heliborne operations
• Mountain warfare drills
• Use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS)
• Counter-UAS tactics
• Casualty evacuation and combat medical aid
• Integration of artillery, aviation, and electronic warfare
Both sides will also hold working groups on information warfare, communications, logistics, and modern battlefield technologies.
A focus on joint readiness
According to the Defence Ministry, the exercise will culminate in “jointly planned and executed tactical manoeuvres, ranging from live-fire exercises to high-altitude warfare scenarios.” The goal is to improve coordination for United Nations peacekeeping missions and strengthen preparedness for multi-domain challenges.
Why timing matters?
The drill comes against the backdrop of growing strain in India–US relations. Ties took a hit after President Donald Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, sparking new friction between the two countries.
