India-US bilateral tri-service exercise Tiger Triumph commences in Visakhapatnam

Visakhapatnam: The fourth edition of Tiger Triumph, the bilateral tri-service India-US Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise, commenced on the Eastern seaboard in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday and will continue till April 13.

The opening ceremony of the Tiger Triumph-2025 was held onboard the Indian Navy's INS Jalashwa on Tuesday. The exercise reflects the deepening convergence of US- India strategic maritime interests and the countries' defense partnership. The present edition is aimed at further enhancement of interoperability and combined joint all-domain operations during large-scale HADR operations.

In his opening remarks, US Embassy New Delhi Chargé d'Affaires Jorgan Andrew said the exercise is a great example of how our great nations can partner together in times of humanitarian need to provide lifesaving support. Every year this exercise builds on the previous exercise and breaks new ground. Yesterday, as part of both our forces deploying Visakhapatnam, we conducted our first US-India joint logistics movement, he added.

A United States Air Force C-130 flew cargo into India and transferred it to an Indian Air Force C-130. The Indian Air Force C-130 then flew that cargo onto its destination. Exercises like these enable our forces to work quickly when our partners in the region are facing humanitarian crises. Yesterday's exercise will improve our capability to jointly distribute humanitarian aid in a time of crisis.This joint logistics movement shows how our major defense partnership makes the Indo-Pacific more secure for all people, Jorgan Andrew added.

Vice-Admiral Sameer Saxena, chief of staff, Eastern Naval Command (ENC) said that the Tiger Triumph exercise, a testament to the tremendous bond between our two great nations, the world's oldest and the world's largest democracies. This exercise uniting our navies, marine corps, armies and air forces is just not about military collaboration, it is a beacon of hope, a symbol of resilience, and a celebration of shared values that define us as democratic, secular, pluralistic societies, he added.

Sameer Saxena mentioned that on Feb 13, earlier this year during his visit to Washington-DC, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "the partnership between India and the US strengthens democracy and strengthens democratic values and systems. We will work together to enhance peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific." These words remind us that our collaboration transcends borders and uniforms— it is about building a better world, rooted in trust and mutual respect. Likewise, US President Donald Trump, speaking at the same occasion, affirmed, "The ties between our two nations are grounded in our common values and our shared commitment to democracy."

Exercise Tiger Triumph is about turning shared resources into shared triumphs. Since its inception in 2019, it has grown in scale and complexity, reflecting the deepening trust between our nations and their Armed Forces. We are forging interoperability, enhancing capability building, and reinforcing our roles as a force for Global good. This is about more than military readiness; it is about preparing to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in times of crisis, to extend a hand of compassion when disaster strikes .And make no mistake, disaster does strike, as we have seen across South East Asia, just this weekend. Disasters, leaving communities in despair. The need to develop our HADR capacity has never been more urgent. Globally, wildfires, earthquakes, and tsunamis have reminded us that nature's fury knows no boundaries. These real-world incidents are not distant memories— they are the clarion calls to action, Sameer Saxena added.

The harbor phase of the exercise will continue at Visakhapatnam till April 7 and involves a planning process for the execution of various training events at sea, as well as further refinement of procedures established in previous iterations of Tiger Triumph. In addition, the harbor phase will include training and Subject Matter Expert Exchange (SMEE) events on a range of professional subjects, such as special operations, emergency medical response procedures, and operations across the air, maritime, cyber and space domains.

These exchanges will allow our forces to continue sharing best practices and building stronger bonds. Sports engagements and visits to sites of cultural importance will also be coordinated to nurture camaraderie and develop personal relationships. During the sea phase, which will take place from April 8-12, the bilateral forces will work together to train for maritime, amphibious and HADR operations through a Joint Combined Command and Control Center. This phase will conclude with establishment of a joint combined humanitarian relief and medical response camp following an amphibious landing at Kakinada.