India Participates in Russia-Belarus Zapad-2025 Military Drills

India has stepped onto the international stage by joining the Zapad-2025 military exercises, hosted jointly by Russia and Belarus. The war games, launched this week, bring together troops from multiple countries and aim to test large-scale combat readiness, coordination, and operational strategies.

For Moscow and Minsk, the exercise is a show of strength and unity in the face of Western scrutiny. For New Delhi, participation carries a deeper diplomatic signal-India is determined to preserve its long-standing partnership with Russia while asserting its freedom to make independent strategic choices.

The development comes at a time when India-US relations are showing signs of strain, with Washington growing increasingly cautious about India’s military cooperation with Moscow. Despite these concerns, Indian officials have maintained that New Delhi’s defence engagements are rooted in its principle of strategic autonomy and serve its national security priorities.

Experts note that India’s decision reflects a pragmatic approach. While it continues to expand security cooperation with the United States, Japan, and other Indo-Pacific partners, New Delhi has no intention of weakening its decades-old defence relationship with Russia.

As Zapad-2025 continues, global attention will remain fixed on how India manages to balance these competing ties-strengthening its traditional bonds with Moscow while navigating a complex partnership with Washington.