Despite ongoing trade tensions, India and the United States have launched the 21st edition of Exercise Yudh Abhyas at Fort Wainwright in Alaska, running from September 1 to 14, 2025. Over 450 Indian troops are participating alongside the U.S. Army’s 11th Airborne Division in one of their largest-ever joint drills.

This year's agenda diverges from previous iterations with drills under sub-arctic conditions, focusing on high-altitude warfare and counter-drone strategies key capabilities needed to navigate emerging multi-domain threats in the Indo-Pacific. Such exercises not only reinforce field interoperability but also underscore the resilience of India–US strategic military cooperation, even amidst economic disagreements.

Yudh Abhyas, meaning “preparing for war,” began in 2004 and has become a cornerstone of bilateral defence relations, alternating between India and the U.S. It strengthens coordination across command levels, integrates operational modules, and builds capacity for humanitarian and peacekeeping missions beyond conventional warfare.