Fort Wainwright, Alaska/New Delhi: Over 450 Indian Army soldiers have joined American troops in Alaska for the 21st edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025. The exercise comes amid tariff tensions between India and the US, yet reflects the continued strength of their defence partnership.
Indian and US Troops Train in Arctic Conditions
The exercise began on September 1 at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, and will continue until September 14. Soldiers of the Madras Regiment are participating alongside the US Army’s 5th Infantry Regiment ‘Bobcats’ of the Arctic Wolves Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division.
Training focuses on mountain warfare, heliborne operations, joint tactical manoeuvres, and UAS/counter-UAS operations. The extreme Arctic climate provides a unique test of high-altitude combat readiness and interoperability.
MEA Highlights Defence Cooperation
The Ministry of External Affairs announced the deployment on social media, noting the importance of Yudh Abhyas for multi-domain readiness and UN peacekeeping operations. Despite ongoing tariff disputes under US President Donald Trump, defence officials emphasised that the strategic partnership remains intact.
“Trust has weakened, but there is too much at stake for this partnership to collapse,” one official remarked.
Defence Deals Underpin Strategic Ties
India has signed defence deals worth over $25 billion with the US in the last two decades. Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) recently received the first batch of 99 GE-F404 turbofan engines for the Tejas Mk-1A fighter aircraft, under a $716 million agreement signed in 2021.
India also plans to acquire 113 more engines, valued at nearly $1 billion, and has ordered 31 MQ-9B Predator drones worth $3.8 billion, scheduled for delivery from 2029.
Naval Cooperation Through Malabar Exercise
Maritime collaboration continues under the Malabar naval exercise. Originally launched in 1992 between India and the US, it now includes Japan and Australia as part of the Quad framework. The 2025 edition will be hosted off the Guam coast in November, strengthening joint naval readiness in the Pacific.
Balancing Strategic Autonomy
Analysts warn that worsening trade frictions may impact future defence deals. However, India continues to pursue a policy of strategic autonomy, maintaining defence ties with Russia and dialogue with China while deepening cooperation with the US.
Yudh Abhyas 2025 thus symbolizes the resilience of India-US defence relations, underscoring the value both nations place on military interoperability and joint preparedness.
