India US joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 will take place in Alaska this month, strengthening bilateral defence ties.
New Delhi: Amid ongoing trade tensions, India and the United States are set to hold the India US joint military exercise later this month in Alaska, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed on Saturday. The exercise, part of the “Yudh Abhyas” series, represents the 21st edition of the annual bilateral defence engagement.
According to the MEA, the India–U.S. defence partnership, underpinned by foundational defence agreements, remains an important pillar of the broader bilateral relationship. “We are expecting a U.S. Defence Policy Team to be in Delhi in mid-August. The 21st edition of the joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas is also expected to take place later this month in Alaska. Both sides remain engaged to convene the 2+2 intersessional meeting at the working level towards the end of the month,” the MEA said in a statement.
The announcement comes shortly after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh postponed his scheduled visit to the United States, which was initially planned for the last week of August. While no official reason was given, the development follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to delay trade talks with India until tariff-related issues are resolved. Washington had recently imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on certain Indian goods, further straining trade relations.
On July 1, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth held his third telephonic conversation of the year with Rajnath Singh. During the call, Secretary Hegseth extended an invitation for the Defence Minister to visit the United States for in-person discussions aimed at deepening bilateral defence cooperation.
Despite trade uncertainties, both nations continue to strengthen their military partnership through India US joint military exercises such as Yudh Abhyas, which focus on interoperability, high-altitude warfare, and counter-terrorism operations. This year’s exercise in Alaska is expected to see participation from infantry units, tactical training drills, and joint operations planning.
The India US joint military exercise underscores the growing strategic cooperation between New Delhi and Washington, reinforcing the defence and security ties that remain a cornerstone of the relationship.
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