# US envoy hails Yudh Abhyas 2026 as Indian troops fire Pinaka, Dhanush 2026-09-24T15:21:42+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 3 independent outlets US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Thursday watched Indian and US troops train together at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Rajasthan during Yudh Abhyas 2026, the annual bilateral army exercise now in its latest edition. Gor called the exercise 'a powerful example of the strength of the US-India defence partnership,' Business Standard and New Indian Express report. The visit comes as President Donald Trump signed the 'Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026', which authorises tariffs of up to 100 percent on goods from countries buying Russian oil, potentially including India. The exercise, which began on September 15, brings together 600 personnel from each army. The Hindu reports that the joint firing demonstration featured the Indian Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, M777 ultra-light howitzer, Dhanush artillery system, and AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, while the US Army fielded HIMARS and M-LIDS systems. The mountain component at Auli, Uttarakhand, includes US paratroopers and Indian Garhwal Rifles operating in integrated squads. The exercise concludes this weekend. ## Indian Opinion Analysis All three sources frame Yudh Abhyas as a positive showcase of US-India military interoperability, with Business Standard and New Indian Express adding the context of the US sanctions law targeting Russian oil buyers. Business Standard leads with the envoy's praise and the sanctions backdrop, while The Hindu focuses purely on the weapons systems and joint drills, omitting any trade or political friction. New Indian Express includes India's MEA warning to Washington about the sanctions law. The omission of the sanctions context by The Hindu removes a key source of bilateral tension, making the coverage read as purely ceremonial. The differing emphasis means a reader needs both the diplomatic praise and the trade pressure to assess the real state of the partnership. The Indian government's stated concern over the sanctions law, reported only by New Indian Express, will be tested when Trump decides whether to apply tariffs on Indian goods. ## Coverage - business-standard.com (neutral report) Leads with envoy's praise but includes sanctions law context - newindianexpress.com (neutral report) Adds India's MEA caution on sanctions law - thehindu.com (neutral report) Focuses on weapons systems, omits sanctions context Tags: Donald Trump, India-US defence, sergio gor, Xi Jinping, Yudh Abhyas Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/us-envoy-calls-yudh-abhyas-2026-a-powerful-example-of-defence-partnership/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/us-envoy-calls-yudh-abhyas-2026-a-powerful-example-of-defence-partnership/#story-in-brief