Archive · 17 Sep 2025
India Joins Russia-Belarus Military Drills Amid Trade Tensions
India has joined the Zapad-2025 military drills led by Russia and Belarus.
The drills involve around 100,000 troops and include exercises like joint training and tactical drills.
Indian forces will participate alongside their Russian counterparts.
Other countries involved include Iran, Bangladesh, and Mali.
The exercises are seen as part of existing defense ties and are taking place amid trade tensions with the United States.
The aim of the drills is to strengthen defense cooperation and show readiness.
India joined the Zapad-2025 military drills alongside Russia and Belarus.
The drills include 65 Indian personnel participating in exercises.
Around 100,000 troops are involved in the Zapad-2025 exercises.
Exercises will include joint training, tactical drills, and special arms skills.
India participated in previous Zapad exercises before 2022.
- Who
- India, Russia, and Belarus
- What
- Joint military drills
- When
- Ongoing, with recent exercises including nuclear launch practice
- Where
- Belarus
- Why
- To strengthen defense cooperation and demonstrate readiness
United States
Russia and Allies
Trade Relations
United States
Experiencing trade tensions.
Russia and Allies
Strengthening ties with Russia amid existing tensions.
- Military Exercise Name
- Zapad-2025
- Participating Countries
- Russia, Belarus, India, Iran, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali
- Indian Personnel Involved
- 65
- Troop Count
- Approximately 100,000
- Location
- Belarus
Sources
India, Iran join Russia-Belarus Zapad military drills amid heightened Nato-Russia tensions
US military confirms it sent observers to Russia-Belarus war games
Russia & Belarus practise launching Putin's nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus, says Lukashenko