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**India Joins Russian Military Drills Amidst Shifting Geopolitical Tensions**

**MOSCOW** – Indian troops participated in the Russian-led Zapad-2025 military exercises this week, signaling continued close ties between Moscow and New Delhi, even as trade tensions strain relations with the United States. The five-day war games, a joint display of military might by Russia and Belarus involving approximately 100,000 troops and nuclear-capable hardware, took place against a backdrop of heightened global tensions, including recent drone incidents in Poland.

The Indian Ministry of Defence confirmed sending 65 personnel, including a battalion from the Kumaon Regiment, to participate in the exercise aimed at bolstering cooperation and trust with Russia. Other nations including Iran, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Mali also sent military contingents.

India’s participation comes at a sensitive time. The Trump administration has imposed tariffs on Indian imports, citing concerns that New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil fuels Moscow’s actions in Ukraine. Trump previously suggested India, along with Russia, were aligning more closely with China. However, recent communications on X (formerly Twitter) suggest that the US and India are engaged in discussions to resolve trade disputes, with both sides expressing optimism about the future of their partnership.

Despite diversifying its defense imports in recent years, India still relies heavily on Russia for military equipment, a legacy dating back to the Cold War era.

Iran’s presence at Zapad-2025 further underscores the evolving geopolitical landscape. Tehran and Moscow have forged a close strategic partnership, with Iran providing Russia with drones and, according to Western sources, potentially ballistic missiles. The two nations recently signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty.

Adding another layer to the complex situation, the U.S. confirmed military officials observed the drills after accepting an invitation to attend, even as they were involved in a conflict with Iran following Israeli bombings of Iran, leading to a 12 day war. This move comes as the US seeks to de-escalate the war in Ukraine and improve ties with Belarus.

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