All you need to know about the upcoming India-US mega military drill

A major batallion-level exercise between India and US will be conducted from Novemebr 15- December 2 in Uttarakhand's Auli, reports say.

As part of this joint exercise titled 'Yudh Abhyas,' the military of both countries will be engaged in a number of complex drills.

The exercise will reportedly involve participation of 350 soliders empoloyed in intergrated battle groups in mountains and extreme cold climate.

The last such bilateral exercise was held in October 2021 in Alaska in the US.

The "Yudh Abhyas" exercise is taking place in the backdrop of India's lingering border row with China in eastern Ladakh.

In June 2016, the US designated India a "Major Defence Partner".

The two countries have also inked key defence and security pacts over the past few years, 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.

(With inputs from PTI)

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