Yudh Abhyas 2023: India And US To Conduct Joint Combat Exercises In September Amidst Continuing Standoff With China

India and the United States are set to conduct their bilateral military exercise in Alaska next month, focusing on swift and coordinated operations in high-altitude areas for emergencies like natural calamities, according to sources.

The 19th edition of the exercise, known as Yudh Abhyas, is expected to take place in the second week of September, although exact dates are still not announced.

Approximately 150 soldiers from the Indian side are anticipated to participate in the exercise. The exercise will focus on humanitarian and disaster relief (HADR) operations, along with aspects of anti-terrorism activities.

Both nations' troops will practise coordinated relief efforts for responding to natural disasters, as stated by officials in the defence and security establishment.

Conducted on an annual basis, the Yudh Abhyas exercise alternates between India and the US. The prior edition occurred in Uttarakhand in November 2022, near the Line of Actual Control with China.

In 2021, the exercise took place in October at the Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska, US.

The Yudh Abhyas exercise follows Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's successful state visit to the US in June, during which the US agreed to transfer the technology of the General Electric F414 jet engines to India.

This exercise will come close on the heels of the Malabar naval drills which will be conducted between 11 August and 22 August in Australia, between the four QUAD nations — India, the US, Japan and Australia.

The Malabar exercise this year will focus on hunting submarines and sharpening participating navies' ability on closing the sea lanes for enemy submarines.

This comes at a time when India and China are locked in a three-year-long standoff along the entire LAC since the deadly clashes at Galwan in June 2020.

Despite holding 18 rounds of military commander talks and engaging in multiple meetings between the defence and foreign ministers of both nations, a resolution to the standoff remains elusive.