India Joins 'Zapad 2025' Military Drills

India has taken part in the Zapad-2025 military drills jointly conducted by Belarus and Russia from September 12–16, marking a noteworthy instance of cooperation with Moscow amid escalating tensions with the United States.

Official sources confirm 65 military personnel from India’s forces participated in the exercise, which featured around 100,000 troops, warships and nuclear-capable aircraft. 

The drills are meant to simulate a show of readiness in case of invasion, and include forces from several other nations: Iran, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Mali. India’s participation was led by the Kumaon Regiment, underlining its role in this strategic display of mutual trust with Russia. 

This move comes at a time of friction between India and the US, particularly over trade issues—Washington recently imposed steep tariffs on Indian imports. Still, New Delhi insists the relations with the US remain intact, calling them “very positive” and emphasising ongoing negotiations to resolve trade and tariff disputes. 

While India’s long-standing defence ties with Russia are not new—it remains a major supplier of Indian military equipment—this particular joint exercise is being watched closely. It’s seen by some analysts as signalling India’s nuanced balancing act between Moscow and Washington, especially as global alignments shift. 

Key Takeaways:

India sent 65 troops to the Zapad-2025 Russia-Belarus war games, participating alongside other countries such as Iran and Bangladesh.

The drills highlight growing tensions between India and the US, especially over trade tariffs, even as New Delhi insists its relationship with Washington remains strong.

India’s involvement underlines its ongoing defence dependency on Russia and its strategy of balancing relations amid shifting global power dynamics.

Original Source:

Al Jazeera — India joins Belarus-Russia war games amid trade tensions with US