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India has officially participated in the Russian-led military exercises with Belarus.
Getting into it: India deployed 65 personnel to take part in Zapad-2025, a five-day strategic military exercise held across 41 training grounds in Russia and Belarus. The Indian Ministry of Defense described the move as part of efforts to“further strengthen defence cooperation and foster camaraderie between India and Russia, thereby reinforcing the spirit of collaboration and mutual trust.”
Indian forces reportedly participated in simulated conventional warfare operations, joint combat scenarios, and tactical coordination drills, although India did not partake in segments involving nuclear weapons rehearsals or the Oreshnik hypersonic missile test simulations.
India’s participation is not a surprise to some analysts, mainly because India relies heavily on Russian military equipment, a relationship dating back to the Cold War era. As of 2023, roughly 60% of India’s active military inventory (including fighter jets, tanks, and missile systems) comes from Russian defense contractors. In addition to arms, India remains one of the largest importers of Russian oil, buying crude at discounted rates despite US-led sanctions.
This has ultimately led to deteriorating diplomatic ties with the United States. In August, President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on a range of Indian exports, accusing India of “fueling Russia’s war machine” through continued oil purchases. The tariffs led to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi avoiding direct communication with Trump, reportedly dodging multiple outreach attempts. It wasn’t until this week that the two leaders finally spoke.
According to official readouts, the call was cordial. Trump opened by wishing Modi a happy 75th birthday, and reiterated the importance of India-US ties. Modi responded publicly by calling Trump a “friend” and reaffirming that “India and the US are close friends and natural partners. I am confident that our trade negotiations will pave the way for unlocking the limitless potential of the India-US partnership.”
