India-Japan Joint Military Exercise ‘Dharma Guardian 2025’ to be Held at Mount Fuji

The sixth edition of Exercise Dharma Guardian is scheduled to take place from February 25 to March 9, 2025, at Mount Fuji, Japan. This annual Indo-Japanese military exercise is a significant step in strengthening the strategic and defence cooperation between the two nations. The upcoming edition will primarily focus on urban warfare tactics and counter-terrorism operations under the United Nations (UN) mandate.

Strengthening India-Japan Defence Ties

The Dharma Guardian exercise follows the successful visit of India’s Chief of the Army Staff to Japan in October 2024. The visit laid the foundation for deeper military collaboration, reflecting both countries’ commitment to regional stability and collective security. Given the evolving security environment in the Indo-Pacific, such joint training programs are critical in addressing shared challenges.

Objectives of Exercise Dharma Guardian 2025

The key objectives of Exercise Dharma Guardian 2025 include:

• Enhancing Operational Readiness: The primary goal is to improve the ability of both forces to operate together efficiently.
• Joint Urban Warfare & Counter-Terrorism Drills: The exercise will focus on military tactics used in urban combat zones, particularly in counter-terrorism operations.
• Tactical Manoeuvres for Security Challenges: Participants will engage in real-time combat simulations to counter a wide range of security threats.
• Refining Coordination Strategies: The drills will help both armies fine-tune their operational coordination, improving joint military responses in crisis situations.
• Building Mutual Trust: By working together in hostile environments, both forces will develop a stronger sense of trust and cooperation.

Background & Strategic Significance

The India-Japan military partnership has grown significantly over the past few years. Dharma Guardian is one of the most important bilateral defence engagements between the two nations, reflecting their commitment to regional peace, security, and the rule of law.

Importance in the Indo-Pacific Region

Both India and Japan share a vision of a free, open, and stable Indo-Pacific, making their defence cooperation crucial amid evolving security dynamics. The region has seen growing geopolitical tensions, and joint military exercises like Dharma Guardian play a vital role in:

• Strengthening India-Japan defence ties
• Enhancing preparedness for emerging threats
• Reinforcing commitment to international security norms

This exercise also complements other quadrilateral and multilateral defence collaborations, such as India’s engagement in the QUAD (India, Japan, Australia, and the U.S.) and Malabar Naval Exercises.

Training & Tactical Aspects

During Dharma Guardian 2025, both armies will engage in an extensive two-week training program. The drills will include:

• Urban Warfare Tactics: Military strategies for combat in densely populated areas.
• Counter-Terrorism Operations: Techniques for handling insurgencies and countering asymmetric warfare threats.
• Close Combat & Tactical Drills: Engagements focused on close-quarter battles (CQB).
• Intelligence Sharing & Surveillance Training: Enhancing the ability to track and neutralize threats efficiently.

These training exercises will be conducted under United Nations-mandated peacekeeping protocols, ensuring that both armies are well-prepared for joint missions under international guidelines.

Cultural Exchange: Strengthening People-to-People Ties

Beyond combat training, Exercise Dharma Guardian promotes cultural exchange between Indian and Japanese soldiers. This includes:

• Traditional Events & Social Interactions: Soldiers from both countries participate in activities that foster mutual understanding.
• Language & Cultural Workshops: Learning about each other’s traditions, history, and values enhances interoperability.
• Military Heritage & War History Discussions: Understanding the military evolution of both countries.

Cultural exchanges are crucial as they help in effective collaboration during real-world missions where understanding each other’s ethos and working styles can be the key to success.

India’s Parallel Military Exercises: Exercise Cyclone III with Egypt

At the same time as Dharma Guardian, India will also conduct Exercise Cyclone III with Egypt. This military exercise aims to strengthen defence ties between India and Egypt, focusing on:

• Joint Special Forces Operations
• Tactical Manoeuvres for Security Threats
• Combat Strategies in Extreme Environments

This demonstrates India’s growing global military partnerships, reinforcing its position as a key player in international security cooperation.

Long-Term Impact & Future of Dharma Guardian

The lessons learned from Exercise Dharma Guardian will have a long-lasting impact on both India and Japan’s armed forces. Key takeaways include:

• Enhanced Tactical Skills: Indian and Japanese soldiers will gain valuable experience in joint operations.
• Improved Bilateral Defence Cooperation: Strengthened defence diplomacy and future military collaborations.
• Regional & Global Security Contributions: Both nations will be better equipped to contribute to peacekeeping missions under the UN framework.
• Preparation for Future Joint Missions: The insights from this exercise will enhance future security engagements in the Indo-Pacific and beyond.

Summary of Exercise Dharma Guardian 2025

Topic	Details
Why in News?	The sixth edition of Exercise Dharma Guardian is scheduled from February 25 to March 9, 2025, at Mount Fuji, Japan. It focuses on urban warfare tactics and counter-terrorism operations under the UN mandate.
Objective	– Enhance operational readiness. – Conduct joint urban warfare & counter-terrorism drills. – Improve tactical manoeuvres for security challenges. – Strengthen coordination strategies. – Build mutual trust between Indian and Japanese forces.
Strategic Significance	– Strengthens India-Japan defence ties. – Enhances preparedness for emerging threats. – Reinforces commitment to international security norms. – Supports India’s participation in QUAD & Malabar Naval Exercises.
Training & Tactical Aspects	– Urban warfare tactics for combat in densely populated areas. – Counter-terrorism operations to handle insurgencies. – Close combat & tactical drills (CQB). – Intelligence sharing & surveillance training under UN peacekeeping protocols.
Cultural Exchange	– Traditional events & social interactions between Indian and Japanese soldiers. – Language & cultural workshops to enhance interoperability. – Military heritage discussions to understand defence evolution.
Parallel Exercise: Cyclone III	Concurrently, India will conduct Exercise Cyclone III with Egypt, focusing on: – Joint special forces operations. – Tactical manoeuvres for security threats. – Combat strategies in extreme environments.
Long-Term Impact	– Enhanced tactical skills and joint operational experience. – Strengthened bilateral defence cooperation. – Better preparedness for UN peacekeeping & Indo-Pacific security. – Foundation for future military collaborations.