Tariff YUDH and War ABHYAS.

Amid the ongoing fiscal disagreements between India and the United States, comes a significant announcement by the Ministry of External Affairs stating that Delhi and Washington are going to hold a joint military exercise in Alaska this month. It came on the rainy day of 14^th august, when media outlets were engaged in fierce debates primarily on domestic issues like Supreme Court’s order on stray dog relocation, electoral reforms and voter fraud claims.

The United States is one of the most significant partners of India since the early 2000s. Where the last two decades were pivotal in shaping this partnership. As of late however, there have been contentions which could significantly damage this laboriously worked out partnership. If the same continues, it will push India into the arms of Russia and China. The general consensus however is that it will be very immature for the Indian government to sideline Washington during Trump's presidency.

Since long, both  nations have collaborated in various aspects including trade, research, defences & even space exploration. For instance, In the realm of national security, there exist multiple defence agreements between the two countries that allow for a much higher level of military cooperation in technology, interoperability, and defence manufacturing.

·       LEMOA – Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (2016). Allows mutual access to each other’s military facilities for refuelling and supplies.

·       COMCASA – Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (2018). Enables secure communication and interoperability between the militaries.

·       BECA – Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (2020). Provides for sharing of geospatial and satellite data for better military accuracy.

·       GSOMIA – General Security of Military Information Agreement (2002). Ensures protection of shared classified military information.

Aside from these agreements, historically, The US views India as a strong potential ally and a strategic partner of the utmost importance in the Indo-Pacific to counter China, India is a Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue) member where with other member states like US, Japan and Australia, it ensures a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, with a keen focus on security, economic cooperation, and strategic stability.

Therefore, it highlights the robust partnership deeply embedded between the two states. “We are expecting a US Defence Policy Team to be in Delhi in mid-August," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters at a press briefing in New Delhi. The US-India Yudh Abhyas scheduled on the first week of September is just more proof of strategic co-operation between the two states despite political differences.

A joint military exercise means coming together of two or more countries for a training operation, where the armies simulate a war like scenario & include tactical drills, field training, counter-terrorism operations, combined operational planning, and demonstration of military equipment. The goal of this exercise is to improve coordination, preparedness, and effectiveness of troops during actual war or peacekeeping missions.

Primarily, there are two types of joint military exercises conducted between India and the United States: Namely the Yudh Abhyas and Tiger Triumph.

Yudh Abhyas focuses on army-to-army joint training and on counter-terrorism operations conducted under UN Chapter VII mandates which deal with peace enforcement. It has been held annually since 2004; in a rotational basis between India and the USA. It facilitates knowledge sharing, trust building, and a strategic defence partnership and is considered the largest joint exercise between the two armies.

The recent edition of this exercise will be the first joint exercise post Operation Sindhoor, which tactically impressed US forces. Therefore, they are visibly keen to share India’s experience and knowledge acquired in this operation. A mixed contingent of about 400 army personnel led by the Madras regiment, one of the oldest and most battle-hardened of Indian units, will be joining world’s most powerful military in the challenging high-altitude and cold-climate terrain of Alaska.

Interestingly, Alaska was chosen to increase acquaintance of Indian soldiers with the climate of Ladakh and Siachen Glacier. This time, Yudh Abhyas will expand beyond the basic infantry drills to include a diverse range of military assets and technologies from both sides. the US Army will showcase the amphibious version of its Stryker combat vehicle, following India’s earlier evaluation of the land-based variant. India had specifically requested US to demonstrate this capability trial, and depending on its performance, future procurement decisions could be made. The exercise will also increasingly incorporate training on emerging warfare domains like counter-unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and cyber-hybrid warfare elements, acknowledging the evolving nature of contemporary conflicts.

The prior version or the 20th edition took place in September 2024 at the Foreign Training Node in Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan. It was then the largest with 600 soldiers on each side. The main focus of this edition was on counter-terrorism, artillery, heavy machine gun firing, and attack helicopter operations. It featured US technologies like M142 HIMARS and Stryker combat vehicles.

Separately, this 21^st edition is expected to build significantly on that engagement.  

Apart from the tactical training, Yudh Abhyas is designed to foster interoperability, trust, and camaraderie between the two armies. By exchanging tactics, techniques, and procedures, both militaries aim at enhancing their joint operational readiness and bolster long-term defence collaboration. Delhi and Washington are also preparing to finalise the proposed 10-year framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership, expected to be signed during the next meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth. The plan aims to expand cooperation beyond arms purchases to include co-production of systems such as the Javelin ATGMs (anti-tank guided missiles) and the Stryker combat vehicle. 

On the other hand, Tiger Triumph is a tri-service exercise involving the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force along with their US counterparts. It focuses on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), where it primarily simulates rescue, relief, and evacuation operations following natural disasters or emergencies. The first edition was conducted in November 2019 in Visakhapatnam, India.

The future outlook of this exercise is positive; it will keep the thread of partnership alive amid fiscal tensions. The future editions of the exercise may incorporate advanced elements like AI-enabled warfare, space warfare and integrated cyber drills. The proposed 10-year defence framework, if finalised, could transform the partnership from a buyer-seller model into one focused on co-development and co-production.

In conclusion, The US-India Yudh Abhyas will foster the already robust defence relations. Both the armies bring their own insights to the joint military exercises which is mutually beneficial. Despite these tariff tantrums both the countries still stand together to cooperate in long term strategic plan. Ultimately, the success of Yudh Abhyas lies not just in tactical drills, but in building long-term trust between two democracies whose partnership will play a decisive role in shaping the future balance of power in Asia and beyond.