India And US May Hold First Joint Tri-Services Military Exercise This Year

India and the United States may hold their first tri-services military exercise later this year, Hindustan Times has reported.

According to the report, the two countries are currently engaged in a discussion to finalise the modalities of the exercise.

While the US has held tri-services military drills with many of its allies, India has held such an exercise only with Russia. However, the three services of the armed forces of India and the US hold separate military exercises.

The armies of the two countries participate in exercise Yudh Abhyas, the navies hold the Malabar drill with Japan and other friendly nations and the Air Forces participate in exercises such as Red Flag and Cope India.

The issue is likely to come up during the 2+2 dialogue in which External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold discussions with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary James Mattis.

Around 350 personnel from Army, 80 from Air Force with two IL-76 aircraft and one Frigate and Corvette each from the Navy had participated in a bilateral exercise, called 'Indra 2017', with the Russian forces last year.