Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 | 17 Sep 2025

Source: IE

The 21st edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 was held at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, aiming to enhance interoperability, readiness, and cooperation between the Indian and US armies.

• Historical Background: Started in 2004 as counterinsurgency training; evolved to include conventional, unconventional, hybrid threats, and peacekeeping operations.
• Objectives: Joint military exercise to enhance bilateral readiness, interoperability, brigade-battalion coordination, air-to-ground integration, and support a free and open Indo-Pacific strategy.
• Strategic Importance: Alaska offers Arctic and Indo-Pacific operational experience; Indian forces gain cold-weather training alongside US Arctic-experienced troops.
• Broader Significance: Part of the US-India Major Defense Partnership, including joint exercises, defense trade, and personnel exchanges to enhance combined capabilities.
• Other Exercises Between India and US: Exercise Vajra Prahar (Special Forces’ Exercise), SALVEX (Navy), Cope India (Air Force), and Malabar Exercise (Quadrilateral naval exercise).