The 21st edition of the India–United States joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas commenced on 1 September at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and is scheduled to continue until 14 September 2025.

Considered one of the most significant annual bilateral drills, the exercise brings together more than 450 Indian soldiers and their US counterparts to train in one of the most challenging environments in the subarctic.

The Indian Army contingent is represented by a battalion from the Madras Regiment, while the US Army is participating through its 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment — popularly known as the “Bobcats” — which is part of the 11th Airborne Division’s Arctic Wolves Brigade Combat Team.

Official photographs released by India’s Ministry of External Affairs depicted the Indian troops arriving on a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, underlining the strategic logistics and airlift cooperation between the two forces at the outset.

The scope of Yudh Abhyas 2025 has been significantly widened to address contemporary security challenges, with a strong emphasis on joint high-altitude warfare and counter unmanned aerial systems (counter-UAS) operations.

Training modules cover a diverse spectrum of warfare capabilities, ranging from heliborne insertions and casualty evacuation under fire, to integrated artillery, aviation, and electronic warfare support in combat scenarios.

Specialised sessions are being conducted on employment of surveillance technologies, use of drones in reconnaissance and combat support, and counter-drone techniques designed to neutralise hostile unmanned aerial systems.

Rock-craft and mountain warfare drills are central elements of this year’s exercise, reflecting a focus on terrains similar to the Himalayas where India faces persistent border challenges. The culmination of the two-week training will witness high-tempo live-fire drills and complex multi-domain tactical manoeuvres, emphasising joint preparedness for future conflict scenarios and enhancing coordination for United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Strategically, the timing of the exercise is noteworthy as it comes against the backdrop of strained India-US relations in the wake of trade tensions. The imposition of steep tariffs on Indian goods by US President Donald Trump has cast a shadow on the overall bilateral landscape, leading to scepticism about mutual trust.

However, both sides continue to demonstrate that their military relationship remains resilient. Defence officials have stressed that despite political rifts, the interoperability and operational synergy developed through over two decades of structured military cooperation are too valuable to be disrupted.

Since 2007, US defence sales to India have exceeded $25 billion, underscoring the growing strategic convergence. Deliveries of 99 GE-F404 jet engines, contracted in 2021 for India’s indigenous TEJAS MK-1A fighter program, have begun, and negotiations are underway for another contract worth $1 billion for 113 additional engines.

Looking forward, India is also set to acquire 31 MQ-9B Predator armed drones valued at $3.8 billion, with deliveries expected towards the end of the decade, highlighting the future trajectory of bilateral defence ties in high-technology domains.

Parallel to Yudh Abhyas, preparations are ongoing for the 29th edition of the Malabar naval exercise, scheduled for November this year off the coast of Guam.

Initially a bilateral initiative launched in 1992, Malabar has evolved into a quadrilateral arrangement under the Quad framework, involving India, the US, Japan, and Australia, with a central theme of enhancing maritime security and fostering deterrence against coercive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific.

The conjunction of these two exercises signifies a comprehensive land-sea partnership, reinforcing the message that despite trade frictions and a shifting global strategic environment, military cooperation between India and the US remains robust and forward-looking.

At the geopolitical level, India continues to maintain a delicate balance in its global engagements, re-engaging cautiously with China despite unresolved border tensions and preserving its strategic defence partnership with Russia, which has long been central to its military procurement.

Simultaneously, India is consolidating its relationship with the United States in the defence and security domain, viewing it as vital to counterbalance regional challenges and strengthen its operational preparedness.

By participating in Yudh Abhyas and preparing for Malabar, India signals its intent to sustain a multifaceted global military posture without being constrained by economic disagreements.

In sum, Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 reflects the maturity of the India-US defence partnership, characterised by practical, on-the-ground collaboration that goes beyond political upheavals.

The focus areas this year — particularly high-altitude manoeuvres, counter-drone warfare, and multi-domain integration — underscore the adaptability of both armies to contemporary and future threats.

The exercise demonstrates a shared resolve to continue strengthening operational readiness, improve interoperability, and preserve the momentum of strategic collaboration.

Ultimately, it highlights how the Indo-US military relationship, nurtured over decades, has achieved a level of depth and resilience that allows it to endure even amid trade disputes and diplomatic strains.

Report synthesised from multiple news reports by ANI, TOI,  PTI, and others dated Sept 2, 2025