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The armies of India and the United States began a joint military drill at Fort Wainwright in Alaska amid a strain in diplomatic ties over Donald Trump’s tariff hike.
Indian and US troops at Fort Wainwright in Alaska. (US Embassy in India)
The armies of India and the United States began a joint military drill at Fort Wainwright in Alaska to boost bilateral readiness and interoperability amid a strain in diplomatic relations between the two countries over US President Donald Trump’s tariff hike.
Soldiers from the US 11th Airborne Division and the Indian Army contingent officially opened the 21st iteration of the India-US Joint Military Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 during a ceremony at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, on Tuesday, marking the start of two weeks of combined training exercises, according to an official statement by the US embassy in India.
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The Indian Army contingent had reached Alaska on Monday to participate in the exercise, which is scheduled from September 1 to 14. The Indian contingent will train with their US troops in heliborne operations, mountain warfare, UAS, counter-UAS, and joint tactical drills, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
An Indian Army contingent has reached Fort Wainwright, Alaska 🇺🇸 for the 21st edition of Yudh Abhyas 2025 (01 – 14 Sept).Alongside U.S. 11th Airborne Division troops, they’ll train in heliborne ops, mountain warfare, UAS/counter-UAS & joint tactical drills—boosting UN PKO &… pic.twitter.com/FgXR39ga22
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) September 1, 2025
Sponsored by US Army Pacific Command, Yudh Abhyas 2025 includes US Army Soldiers, primarily from the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment “Bobcats,” 1st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Arctic) and a comparable Indian Army contingent of the 65th Infantry Brigade.
What Is The Training About?
The Indian contingent comprises personnel from a battalion of the Madras Regiment, according to the Ministry of Defence. According to the official statement, this year’s exercise will include a brigade combat team command post exercise linked with a bilateral field training exercise.
Training events will incorporate artillery live-fire exercises, academic exchanges, cultural events, and combined tactical operations in Alaska’s challenging terrain and climate. The troops of both countries will rehearse a range of tactical drills, including employment of surveillance resources, unmanned aerial systems, rockcraft, mountain warfare, casualty evacuation, and combat medical aid.
The objectives of the exercise are to enhance bilateral readiness and interoperability, develop coordination between brigade and battalion staffs, integrate operational enablers, and refine air-to-ground integration doctrine.
Yudh Abhyas is held alternately each year in India and the United States. This year, the exercise is taking place in the US, with the next edition scheduled to be hosted by India. Alaska was chosen this year due to its proximity to key Arctic and Indo-Pacific air and sea corridors.
The exercises took place as relations between the United States and India are strained over trade. Donald Trump imposed steep tariffs on India- a 25% reciprocal duty on Indian goods combined with an additional 25% levy linked to New Delhi’s purchase of Russian crude.
About the Author
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international… Read More
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