India has joined the Russian-led Zapad 2025 military drills, a move that highlights the continuing cooperation between Moscow and New Delhi. The Zapad 2025 will take place both Russia and Belarus.
According to Russian state news agency TASS, the participation of Indian forces is particularly significant as it comes amidst the backdrop of growing tensions between India and the United States, largely due to the US’s imposition of high tariffs under US President Donald Trump.
The Indian Ministry of Defence confirmed the deployment of 65 armed forces personnel to participate in the five-day exercise, designed to showcase the combined military readiness of Russia and Belarus in the event of an invasion.
The exercise featured 100,000 troops, nuclear-capable bombers and warships, emphasising the military might of the participating nations at a time when tensions with NATO countries are rising, particularly following the downing of Russian drones in Poland last week.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, dressed in military attire, remarked, “Today we are conducting the final part of the Zapad 2025 strategic exercise.”
Personnel from countries such as Iran, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mali also joined in.
However, India’s participation, led by the prestigious Kumaon Regiment, is particularly noteworthy as it signals continued strengthening of ties between the two countries, especially amidst growing concerns that the US may be losing a vital ally in Asia, a region crucial for counterbalancing China.
Tensions between India and the US surfaced last month when the Trump administration imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on Indian imports, accusing India of enabling Russia’s attacks on Ukraine through its purchases of Russian oil.
In response, Trump expressed his frustrations on social media, suggesting that both India and Russia appeared to be drifting closer to China, particularly during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin.
Nonetheless, Trump later softened his stance, stating on X that the US and India were continuing trade talks to resolve the ongoing issues.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to Trump’s remarks on social media, emphasising the strong friendship between India and the US. Modi wrote, “India and the US are close friends and natural partners,” and expressed confidence that trade negotiations would unlock further potential in the India-US relationship.
On Tuesday, Modi thanked Trump for his birthday wishes, posting on X, “Thank you, my friend, President Trump, for your phone call and warm greetings on my 75th birthday. Like you, I am also fully committed to taking the India-US Comprehensive and Global Partnership to new heights.”
This marks not the first time India has participated in Russian military exercises.
In 2021, prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, India sent an unspecified number of troops to the Volgograd region for exercises focused on “Counter Terrorism and Conventional operations.”
India’s defense relations with Russia date back to the Soviet era, during which Moscow provided significant support to India’s economy. While India has diversified its defense suppliers over the years, it still relies heavily on Russian military hardware.
The United States confirmed on Tuesday that its military officials observed the drills after receiving an invitation to attend, underscoring its attempts to engage with both Russia and Belarus as it continues to push for an end to the conflict in Ukraine while seeking closer ties with Belarus.
