What happened?
On September 2, 2025 An Indian Army contingent departed for Fort Wainwright, Alaska, USA, to take part in the 21st edition of the India-USA Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025, being held from September 1–14. The Indian troops, drawn from a battalion of the Madras Regiment, will train alongside the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment “Bobcats” of the Arctic Wolves Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. Over the two-week exercise, both armies will rehearse diverse tactical drills, including heliborne operations, employment of surveillance and unmanned aerial systems, mountain warfare, casualty evacuation, combat medical aid, and integrated use of artillery, aviation, and electronic warfare systems. This comes months after India and the U.S. conducted an intensive joint training phase under Exercise Tiger Triumph 2025 at the Duvvada Firing Range (April 2–4), which included live-firing drills, jungle warfare training, and combat medical aid exercises. Senior officers from both sides, including Rear Admiral Greg Newkirk, participated in the training, underscoring high-level commitment to defence cooperation.
Why it matters to India
Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 is a cornerstone of India-U.S. defence ties, enhancing interoperability, tactical coordination, and operational preparedness between the two militaries. For India, participation strengthens its capability in multi-domain operations, high-altitude warfare, and UN peacekeeping missions, while also fostering trust and camaraderie with U.S. forces. The exercise builds on growing strategic synergy and reinforces India’s role as a key partner in regional and global security, particularly in addressing humanitarian and security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean Region.