India and the United States are deepening their defense partnership beyond joint military drills, with a focus on medical collaboration and strategic cooperation. A senior delegation from India’s Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), led by Director General Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, visited U.S. Armed Forces medical facilities in Honolulu, Hawaii, earlier this week.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the delegation engaged in detailed staff-level talks with U.S. defense medical officials, exchanging best practices in specialized areas such as military medicine, marine medicine, and aviation medicine. The discussions also explored avenues to expand medical cooperation during bilateral military exercises, reinforcing preparedness in both nations’ armed forces.

During the visit, Indian officials inspected state-of-the-art U.S. medical installations, gaining insights into emergency care systems, deployment-based medical management, and advanced infrastructure supporting troops in high-stress environments. The AFMS team also shared its operational expertise, strengthening mutual understanding and trust between the two sides.

Marine medicine, vital for naval personnel, and aviation medicine, essential for air force missions and space-related deployments, were major topics of focus. Officials emphasized that such collaboration not only improves the health security of defense personnel but also adds new depth to the strategic partnership between India and the U.S.

The visit follows the successful conclusion of “Yudh Abhyas 2025”, a joint military exercise held in Alaska that wrapped up on September 14. That exercise featured high-altitude operations, counter-drone strategies, electronic warfare, and surveillance training. Together, these developments signal a broader Indo–U.S. commitment to strengthening defense readiness and cooperation across multiple domains.