India, Iran join Russia-Belarus Zapad military drills amid heightened Nato-Russia tensions

India, Iran, and several of Russia’s key partners in Asia and Africa have joined the ongoing Zapad military exercises being held by Russia and Belarus, Russian state media reported on Tuesday.

“The coalition force includes task forces and military contingents from the armed forces of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Russian state news agency TASS quoted the Kremlin as saying.

In addition to the Asian participants, soldiers from Burkina Faso, Congo, and Mali are also taking part in the large-scale drills, which had previously been presented as a bilateral Russian-Belarusian exercise.

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According to The Times report on Monday, the Indian Defence Ministry said that it has deployed 65 personnel, including members of the esteemed Kumaon Regiment, to participate in the exercises.

These troops are stationed at the Mulino training ground, located about 40 miles west of Nizhny Novgorod, well away from Nato’s borders, added the report.

Delhi said that the deployment aims to “further strengthen defence cooperation and foster camaraderie between India and Russia, thereby reinforcing the spirit of collaboration and mutual trust.”

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According to the ministry, Indian forces will engage in “joint training, tactical drills, and special arms skills” alongside their Russian counterparts.

India, which has traditionally maintained a non-aligned stance since the Cold War, has a long-standing military relationship with Moscow and remains one of the largest customers of Russian arms.

India previously took part in Zapad exercises before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and has joined several other Russian war games since.

According to The Times report, citing analysts, India’s participation now — amid rising Russia-Nato tensions — is a worrying signal.

Nato has been strengthening air defences along its eastern flank after 21 Russian drones violated Polish airspace last week and another crossed into Romania from Ukraine over the weekend.

Despite US and European efforts to pull India away from Russia’s military sphere through major arms deals, ties remain complex.

Relations with the US have cooled after President Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, hosted Pakistan’s army chief, and claimed credit for ending a brief India-Pakistan conflict in May.

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reaffirmed India’s “special and privileged” partnership with Russia while warmly engaging both President Xi and President Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.

Meanwhile, earlier on Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that 100,000 troops are participating in the Zapad (West) joint exercises with Belarus during a surprise visit to the drills, part of which are taking place near Nato borders.

Earlier, Minsk had stated that only 7,000 troops were involved in the Belarusian phase of the exercises, which were monitored by US Army representatives.

“Today we are conducting the final part of the Zapad 2025 strategic exercise,” AFP quoted Putin, dressed in military uniform, as saying, adding, “100,000 servicemen are taking part.”

The Zapad maneuvers have heightened alert levels among Nato’s eastern members following the recent downing of Russian drones in Poland, prompting Warsaw to close its border with Belarus.

Putin stated the drills aim to practice “repelling potential aggression against the Union State,” referring to the alliance between Russia and Belarus.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the exercises are intended to simulate the occupation of the Suwalki corridor, a strategically vital region in Poland.

Warsaw announced plans to deploy approximately 40,000 troops near the Belarusian border for the duration of the drills.

On Sunday, Russia conducted a test launch of its latest Zirkon supersonic naval missile from a frigate in the Barents Sea. The Belarusian army also reported that nuclear weapons deployment planning was part of the Zapad exercises.

With inputs from agencies