The Indian Army has announced that the 7th edition of the Joint Military Exercise Dharma Guardian 2026 will take place at Chaubattia, Uttarakhand, from February 24 to March 9, 2026. This exercise aims to bolster interoperability between Indian and Japanese forces while focusing on joint urban warfare and counter-terrorism operations.

During the two-week exercise, participating troops will engage in joint planning, synchronize tactical drills, and practice specialized combat skills. Key activities are set to include establishing a Temporary Operating Base, developing an Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) grid, setting up mobile check posts, conducting cordon-and-search operations, executing heliborne missions, and performing house intervention drills.

Strengthening Defence Ties

The Indian Army highlighted that Dharma Guardian 2026 underscores the evolving defence partnership between India and Japan, reflecting a mutual commitment to ensuring regional security. The exercise offers both armies a platform to exchange best practices, learn from each other’s experiences in urban warfare and counter-terrorism, and foster trust between the two forces.

This edition of the exercise follows the successful completion of the previous iteration held at the East Fuji Training Area in Japan from February 24 to March 9, 2025. The sixth edition was notable for its scale, involving troop participation at the company-strength level.

Expanding Bilateral Cooperation

The strengthening of defence relations between India and Japan extends beyond military exercises, as evidenced by recent diplomatic engagements. In January 2026, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and his Japanese counterpart, Toshimitsu Motegi, inaugurated a new AI dialogue and established a Joint Working Group on critical minerals during the 18th Strategic Dialogue. These initiatives highlight the growing scope of bilateral cooperation between the two nations.

India and Japan have been consistently enhancing their defence and strategic ties, with regular joint exercises acting as a fundamental component of the special strategic and global partnership aimed at maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

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