Why India Joined Russia's Zapad-2025 War Games

Decoding Strategic Autonomy

Why India Joined Russia's Zapad-2025 War Games

In September 2025, an elite contingent of the Indian Army participated in the massive Zapad-2025 military exercise alongside Russian and Belarusian forces.
    The drills, viewed in the West as a provocative show of force against NATO, immediately created an apparent contradiction: why would India, a key strategic partner of the United States, join war games with a nation under heavy sanctions?
      India Sends Troops to Zapad-2025
      The puzzle deepened with another striking fact: U.S. military officers were also present as official observers. This complex geopolitical tableau cannot be explained by simple alliances but through a core principle of New Delhi's foreign policy: strategic autonomy.


      This article uses India's participation in the Zapad-2025 drills as a case study to explore this foundational doctrine.
        It will first examine the nature of the exercise itself, then delve into India’s motivations, analyze the sharp international reactions it triggered, and ultimately explain the significance of this policy for a rising India navigating a complex global landscape.
          To grasp the full geopolitical significance of this event, it is essential to first understand the military exercise at its center.

          1. The Flashpoint:

          Understanding the Zapad-2025 Drills

          The Zapad (meaning "West" in Russian) exercise is a large-scale joint strategic military drill conducted periodically by Russia and Belarus.
            The 2025 edition was particularly significant due to heightened geopolitical tensions, making it a focal point of international observation and concern.

            Key Characteristics of Zapad-2025

            • Scale: The exercise was massive, though its true size was a matter of contention. While Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed the participation of over 100,000 troops, some Western reports placed the number of core Russian and Belarusian forces closer to 30,000, a discrepancy that highlights the information warfare surrounding the drills.
            • Strategic Focus: The drills simulated missile strikes near NATO borders. While Russia described them as defensive—rehearsing the "defence of the Union State of Russia and Belarus"—Western analysts viewed them as an attempt to intimidate Europe.
            • Nuclear Element: A critical feature of Zapad-2025 was the rehearsal of tactical nuclear weapons launches. This was openly confirmed by Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who stated: “We are practising everything – from small arms to nuclear warheads.”
            Beyond the core participants, the drills included troops from countries like Iran, China, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Mali.
              Notably, the exercise also hosted observers from 23 countries, including a striking number of NATO members such as the United States, Turkey, and Hungary.
                With the scale and provocative nature of the drills established, the central question remains: what specific calculations drove New Delhi to participate? The answer lies in a nuanced application of its core foreign policy doctrine.

                2. India's Rationale:

                The Doctrine of Strategic Autonomy in Action

                Strategic Autonomy is India's long-standing policy of maintaining an independent foreign policy course. It is rooted in the refusal to be locked into any single military or political alliance, allowing New Delhi to engage with multiple, often competing, global powers to advance its own national interests.
                  India’s participation in Zapad-2025 is a textbook example of this doctrine in practice, driven by a blend of historical obligations, pragmatic benefits, and geopolitical signaling.
                  1. A Time-Tested Partnership India and Russia share what is officially termed a "specially privileged strategic partnership." This relationship is anchored by deep, historical military ties.Over 40% of the hardware in India’s military arsenal is of Russian or Soviet origin, making continued military-to-military cooperation essential for maintenance, upgrades, and training. Participating in exercises like Zapad is seen as a crucial way to sustain this vital, time-tested defense relationship.
                  2. Pragmatic National Interest Beyond historical ties, India’s involvement delivered tangible benefits. It enhanced the combat readiness of its troops, specifically the 65-member contingent from the Kumaon Regiment, by providing experience in multilateral conventional warfare and counter-terrorism operations. Economically, maintaining a cooperative relationship with Moscow helps secure access to discounted Russian oil, a key factor for India's energy security.
                  3. A Message of Multi-Alignment By training with Russia, India sends a clear geopolitical signal that it will not take sides in great power rivalries. This policy of "multi-alignment" allows India the flexibility to pursue its interests with all major powers simultaneously. Just as it concluded Exercise Yudh Abhyas with the U.S. in Alaska, it joined Zapad with Russia. This demonstrates that New Delhi’s relationship with one power does not come at the expense of its ties with another, reinforcing its role as an independent global power.
                  This carefully calibrated policy of multi-alignment, however, was not without controversy. India's decision to participate in Zapad-2025 provoked strong reactions, particularly from Western capitals that viewed the drills through the lens of Russia's war in Ukraine.

                  3. The Reaction:

                  A "Red Line" for the West?

                  India’s deployment of troops to Russia sent "shockwaves" through some circles in Washington and European capitals. While Western analysts and some EU officials expressed alarm, declaring that India had “crossed a red line,” the presence of official U.S. military observers at the same drills suggests a more complex and perhaps less overtly concerned official stance in Washington than the public criticism implied.

                  Western Concerns and Criticisms India's Official Response
                  "Crossing a Red Line": Some Western analysts viewed India's participation as siding with Moscow at a time of high geopolitical tension. Consistent Military Engagement: New Delhi insisted its participation was non-political and consistent with its established military engagements, which are conducted with numerous partners around the world.
                  Complicating Trade Negotiations: EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned that involvement in the drills could hinder progress on a free trade agreement. Pointing to Precedent: The Ministry of External Affairs delivered a key rebuttal, stating: "several other countries including Nato countries such as the United States, Turkey and Hungary are also or have also participated in this exercise as observers."
                  Undermining U.S. Policy: The U.S. expressed concerns that India's engagement with Russia could potentially undermine the international sanctions regime. Military Track is Separate: India’s response emphasized that military exercises are distinct from economic policy and do not violate the sanctions regime, focusing instead on non-political goals like interoperability and joint tactics.

                  While the West's reaction was a mix of public criticism and quiet observation, Moscow offered a full-throated defense of its long-standing partner’s sovereign decision.

                  4. Russia's View:

                  Defending a "Privileged Strategic Partnership"

                  Russia strongly defended India’s participation, dismissing Western criticism as an illegitimate attempt to pressure a sovereign nation.
                    Russian foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova characterized the objections as "brazen pressure on our Indian friends" and a futile effort "to dictate to states that pursue a sovereign foreign policy course."
                      Moscow framed the Zapad drills as "exclusively defensive" in nature, designed to ensure national security and international stability.
                        Furthermore, Zakharova emphasized that the Russia-India relationship is "self-sufficient"—a powerful term implying it is not dependent on or affected by either country's relations with the West.
                          This bond, she noted, is built on "strong time-tested bonds of friendship" and has never been directed against third countries.
                            Viewed in its entirety, this episode—from the complex signaling of the participants to the divergent international reactions—serves as a defining snapshot of India’s modern foreign policy in a turbulent world.

                            5. Conclusion:

                            The Tightrope Walk of a Rising Power

                            India's participation in the Zapad-2025 military exercise was not a reckless decision but a clear and deliberate expression of its foundational foreign policy of strategic autonomy.
                              By sharing a training ground with Russia while simultaneously deepening its security ties with the United States, New Delhi demonstrates its commitment to a multi-aligned approach.
                                This policy is a difficult but necessary "balancing act"—a geopolitical tightrope walk that allows India to manage complex relationships with rival superpowers.
                                  In an increasingly multipolar world, where nations are often pressured to choose sides, this independent path is crucial. It enables India to protect its diverse national interests, maintain flexibility, and carve out its own role as a leading power, beholden to no single bloc but open to engaging with all.

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