New Delhi: The 18th edition of exercise Yudh Abhyas between the armies of India and US is scheduled to take place in Uttarakhand’s Auli from October 14 to 31, according to sources in the defence and military establishment. A number of complex drills is being planned for the mega exercise, they said.
According to the sources, the exercise is aimed at enhancing understanding, cooperation and interoperability between the armies of India and the US. The “Yudh Abhyas” exercise is taking place in the backdrop of India’s lingering border row with China in eastern Ladakh. The last edition of the exercise took place in October 2021 in Alaska in the US.
For past few years, the defence ties between India and US have been on an upswing. The US designated India a “Major Defence Partner” in June 2016. The two countries have also inked key defence and security pacts, including the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 that allows their militaries to use each other’s bases for repair and replenishment of supplies as well as provides for deeper cooperation.
The two sides also signed the COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 which provides for interoperability between the two militaries and provides for the sale of high-end technology from the US to India. In October 2020, India and the US sealed the BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) to further boost bilateral defence ties. The pact provides for sharing of high-end military technology, logistics and geospatial maps between the two countries.
