Between December 2024 and mid-2025, India is hosting and joining 16 major military exercises with countries ranging from Nepal, Japan, and Uzbekistan to the USA, France, and Egypt. These exercises span the Army, Navy, Air Force, and even tri-service levels, highlighting India’s growing role in global defense cooperation.

For example, Surya Kiran XVIII with Nepal, Cyclone III with Egypt, and Dharma Guardian VI with Japan focus on counter-terrorism and joint operations. Naval drills like Varuna with France and Milan multilateral exercise strengthen India’s Indo-Pacific presence.

Such exercises are not just about firepower. They build trust, interoperability, and strategic partnerships, preparing forces for real-time challenges like disaster relief, piracy control, and peacekeeping missions.

For UPSC aspirants, the trend reflects India’s foreign policy priorities, from neighborhood engagement to Indo-Pacific strategy and Central Asian outreach.