India says its annual joint military exercise with the United States will take place this month in the northern state of Uttarakhand. The state has a border in dispute with China.

The Indian government posted the announcement on its Press Information Bureau's website on Tuesday.

It says the scope of the field training exercise includes validation of operational logistics, mountain warfare skills, casualty evacuation and combat medical aid in adverse terrain and climatic conditions.

Territorial border disputes have long continued between the two countries. Both sides suffered military casualties when they clashed in 2020.

India is also working to strengthen its naval capabilities, presumably to counter China's increasing maritime activities. The Indian Navy just took part in joint exercises that wrapped up on Tuesday in the Pacific near Japan. The parties involved in the maneuvers included the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force and the United States and Australian navies.