NEW DELHI: Despite strains in bilateral relations over tariff and trade issues, India and the United States continue to maintain strong military cooperation through regular exercises.
The Indian Navy on Tuesday said that INS Imphal, an indigenous guided-missile destroyer, mission deployed in the Arabian Sea, participated in a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) with the US Navy’s Arleigh-Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Gridley (DDG 101) on September 29, 2025.
The exercises included tactical manoeuvres, cross-deck flying, anti-piracy VBSS (Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure) training, and sharing of best practices to enhance interoperability. According to the Navy, the exercise “underscores the endeavours to strengthen maritime cooperation between the two nations.” Both ships proceeded with scheduled operations after the exercise.
This PASSEX followed the recently concluded 21st edition of the India-US joint military exercise Yudh Abhyas 2025 held at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. The Indian contingent, comprising personnel from a battalion of the Madras Regiment, also known as the “Bobcats” of the Arctic Wolves Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division, US Army.
Over the course of two weeks, troops rehearsed a wide range of tactical drills, including heliborne operations, the employment of surveillance resources and unmanned aerial systems, rockcraft, mountain warfare, casualty evacuation, combat medical aid, and the integrated use of artillery, aviation, and electronic warfare systems. Yudh Abhyas is an annual exercise designed to enhance interoperability between the two armies.
Looking ahead, India’s largest multinational maritime exercise is scheduled early next year on the eastern seaboard, with participation from the US Navy expected. The International Fleet Review (IFR) and Milan-2026 are scheduled to take place in Visakhapatnam from February 14 to 24. The President, Prime Minister, and other dignitaries are expected to attend, along with naval chiefs and representatives from around 145 countries.
In February, US President Donald Trump hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi
in Washington, DC. The leaders discussed deepening strategic convergence and reaffirmed “their unwavering commitment to a dynamic defense partnership spanning multiple domains.”