U.S.-Indian joint exercise kicks off in September

U.S. Army soldiers will be taking part in the 12th-annual, bilateral Yudh Abhyas Exercise in India in September.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Indian Defense Minister Manohar Parrikar, in a joint statement issued this afternoon following a meeting between the two, said they were "encouraged by the increased complexity" of next month's exercise.

Last year's exercise was held in the United States for the first time, with 150 Indian soldiers participating at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, WA. According to an Army statement at the time:

The annual, bilateral exercise, which kicked off Sept. 9 and runs through Sept. 23, focuses on combined U.S. and Indian army training while promoting an enduring partnership and joint interoperability. Participating Soldiers will train together in low-intensity, counter-insurgency actions; civic assistance missions; and quick-reaction team operations. There will also be a combined command post exercise.