In 2022, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine from Belarus included forces that had participated in the Zapad exercises.
India remains the largest importer of Russian military hardware, and the Trump administration’s recently-imposed 50 percent tariff on the South Asian nation for its continued purchase of Russian oil is only likely to drive New Delhi closer to Moscow. One indication of the strength of that relationship is that India has announced it will send a delegation to participate in the second phase of Zapad 2025, the multilateral joint military exercises set to take place in Belarus beginning on Friday.
“Participation in the Zapad-2025 exercises will further deepen defense cooperation and strengthen the spirit of camaraderie between India and Russia,” the Indian Ministry of Defense said in a statement to Russian news agency TASS on Wednesday. “This will provide a valuable opportunity to hone joint operational capabilities, integrate new technologies, and operate in a multinational combat environment.”
New Delhi will reportedly send a contingent that includes “57 army soldiers, seven Air Force, and one Navy representative.” It is also noteworthy that Pakistan and China, two regional rivals of India, are also sending delegations as observers.
Russian Military Exercises Are International Gatherings
India’s presence is considerably small, given that the Zapad 2025 exercises are expected to “officially” involve approximately 13,000 troops, although some analysts believe the number could be even higher. It will include soldiers from more than a dozen nations, with the majority from Russia and Belarus.
At press time, military personnel from Burkina Faso, Congo, Mali, Iran, Niger, and Tajikistan are participating directly, while Cambodia, China, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nicaragua, North Korea, Pakistan, Serbia, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Uzbekistan are sending observers.
Zapad-2025, which began on September 1, enters its second and final phase on September 12 and concludes on September 16. The exercises will include training focused on air defense and countering enemy sabotage groups.
Poland Is Watching the Zapad Exercises Closely
NATO member Poland announced this week that it would close its border with Belarus in response to the drills.
“For national security reasons, we will close the border with Belarus, including railway crossings, in connection with the Zapad maneuvers on Thursday at midnight,” Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said during a government meeting.
Most of Poland’s border crossings with Belarus had already been closed since 2021, after Warsaw accused the government of Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko of directing a wave of migrants to head to Poland. Since then, only two tightly monitored crossings have remained open, and both will be shut until the completion of the exercises.
Warsaw’s concerns go beyond the influx of migrants and refugees.
“Zapad” translates to “West,” and it originated as a joint training exercise to assess the readiness of the military forces of the “Union State” of Russia and Belarus. Although much of the activity is centered in Belarus this year, drills will also take place in Russia’s Moscow and Leningrad military districts, Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave, in the Arctic, and even in the Baltic and Barents Seas.
The drills have been held nearly every four years since 1999. However, Moscow launched its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine following the conclusion of its Zapad-2021 exercises; the initial Russian assault from Belarus included forces that had remained in that nation after the exercises’ conclusion. That has led to speculation that this year’s drills could be used as cover for another buildup of Russian forces.
The Zapad 2025 exercises were scheduled to take place close to the Polish and Lithuanian borders, and Vilnius has also expressed concerns over the deployment of troops. As a result, Minsk has invited foreign observers to attend the drills, including those from NATO countries. Although it is unlikely that any NATO delegates will attend, the exercises are still being monitored closely.
“We must take the exercises near NATO and EU borders seriously; both the bordering countries and NATO itself are treating them with the utmost seriousness,” said Lithuanian Deputy Defense Minister Tomas Godliauskas. “Lithuania and our allies are prepared, united, and will closely monitor developments, ready to respond if necessary.”
NATO is further responding by conducting multiple counter-exercises. Those include Lithuania’s Thunder Strike national defense training drills, while Poland is hosting Iron Defender-25, with 30,000 military personnel taking part, including troops from other NATO countries.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock / youledtayif.
