India Deepens Ties with Russia Through Zapad-2025 Drills Amid Escalating US Trade War

By ATISH |

September 17, 2025

In a bold display of strategic autonomy, India has dispatched a contingent of 65 elite troops to participate in the Russia-Belarus Zapad-2025 military exercises, marking a significant escalation in New Delhi’s military cooperation with Moscow.

The five-day drills, which concluded on September 16, 2025, unfolded across vast terrains in Belarus and western Russia, involving an estimated 30,000 Russian and Belarusian troops—though some Western analysts suggest the true figure could approach 100,000 when including support elements. This participation comes at a precarious moment, as bilateral relations between India and the United States hit rock bottom following President Donald Trump’s imposition of steep 50% tariffs on Indian imports last month, explicitly linked to India’s voracious appetite for discounted Russian oil.

The Zapad-2025 maneuvers, translating to “West” in Russian, are biennial joint exercises designed to simulate repelling aggression against the Russia-Belarus Union State—a close-knit alliance forged in the shadow of NATO’s eastern flank. Held from September 12 to 16 primarily at the Borisov training ground near Minsk, the drills featured a symphony of modern warfare: ballistic missile launches, simulated airstrikes by fighter jets and attack helicopters, drone swarms for reconnaissance, and ground assaults with heavy artillery, tanks, and motorized infantry. Russian state media highlighted the involvement of nuclear-capable bombers, over 300 aircraft and helicopters, and a naval component with 247 vessels—including submarines—in the Baltic and Barents Seas, underscoring the exercises’ scale and sophistication. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin emphasized training on nuclear weapon deployment and Russia’s advanced Oreshnik missile system, adding a layer of strategic deterrence that rattled European capitals.

For India, the deployment—led by a battalion from the storied Kumaon Regiment, with representatives from the Indian Air Force and Navy—focused on company-level tactical drills in open terrain, fostering interoperability in joint training and special arms skills. The Indian Ministry of Defence framed the move as a natural extension of longstanding defense ties with Russia, stating it aims to “strengthen defense cooperation and foster camaraderie,” reinforcing mutual trust amid global uncertainties. This isn’t India’s first rodeo with Zapad; New Delhi joined pre-2022 iterations, but the current edition is the first since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, making it a symbolic reaffirmation of non-alignment in a polarized world.

Yet, the timing couldn’t be more provocative. Just weeks ago, on August 6, 2025, Trump signed an executive order slapping an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods atop an existing 25% levy, bringing the total to 50%—the highest rate imposed on any major U.S. trading partner. The punitive measure targets nearly 55% of India’s $87 billion annual exports to America, hammering sectors like textiles, gems, jewelry, footwear, and electronics. Trump justified the hike by accusing India of indirectly bankrolling Moscow’s war machine through its record $52 billion in Russian oil purchases last year, which surged to 1.88 million barrels per day in early 2025—about 42% of India’s total imports. “India’s buying cheap Russian oil and selling it back for big profits while Ukrainians die,” Trump fumed on Truth Social, vowing more “secondary sanctions” if New Delhi doesn’t comply. The tariffs, set to fully activate by late August, have already sent shockwaves through Indian markets. Exporters warn of a 40-50% plunge in U.S.-bound shipments, potentially shaving 0.3 percentage points off India’s projected 6.3% GDP growth for fiscal 2026. Moody’s analysts predict long-term damage to manufacturing ambitions, as competitors like Vietnam, Mexico, and even China—spared harsher penalties due to a fragile U.S.-Beijing truce—poach market share. In New Delhi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar fired back, branding the demands “unjustified and unreasonable” and highlighting Western hypocrisy: Europe imported far more Russian energy pre-sanctions, and the U.S. itself traded $3.5 billion with Moscow in 2024. “We won’t be lectured on energy security by those who once urged us to buy Russian crude for global stability,” Jaishankar retorted during an Independence Day address. The rift has broader implications for the U.S.-India strategic partnership, once hailed as a counterweight to China’s rise. Hopes for a bilateral trade deal—aimed at capping tariffs at 15%—evaporated after five rounds of stalled talks, with India refusing U.S. demands for greater access to its dairy and agriculture markets. Defense ties, too, are fraying: Reports indicate India may pause $4 billion procurements for P-8I aircraft and Stryker vehicles, opting instead for Russian alternatives.

A U.S. defense delegation’s recent Delhi visit to finalize deals ended in limbo, while joint exercises like Yudh Abhyas in Alaska proceed amid palpable frostiness. Geopolitically, Zapad-2025 amplified these tensions. Over 20 nations observed or joined, including Iran, China, Pakistan (as an observer), and African allies like Mali and Niger— a roster underscoring Russia’s pivot to the Global South. Pakistan’s presence, the first shared drill with India since 2019’s Operation Sindoor, added irony, as the two nuclear rivals maneuvered under Moscow’s umbrella. U.S. military observers, including two officers, attended unannounced, signaling Washington’s dual-track approach: pressuring Russia via proxies like India while thawing ties with Belarus under Trump’s overtures to Lukashenko, who released 52 political prisoners days before the drills. NATO’s eastern flank bristled in response. Poland sealed its Belarus border on September 11, citing “aggressive tactics,” and deployed 40,000 troops for its Iron Defender exercise. Lithuania and Latvia imposed airspace curbs, while Germany surged Eurofighter jets to Warsaw. The drills followed a Russian drone incursion over Poland—downed amid Ukraine’s largest aerial barrage—heightening fears of spillover. Analysts like David Merkel, ex-U.S. State Department Eurasia chief, warn India’s involvement “crosses a red line,” potentially eroding the Quad alliance and QUAD+ frameworks.

From Moscow’s vantage, Zapad-2025 was a triumph. President Vladimir Putin, donning fatigues for a rare Mulino visit, touted the 100,000-strong force as a bulwark against “NATO aggression.” For India, it’s a high-stakes gamble: Cheap Russian oil saved $3.5 billion annually at a $5-per-barrel discount, but tariffs could cost $37 billion in lost exports this year alone. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, fresh off a birthday call from Trump praising his Ukraine peace push, urged self-reliance: “Buy local, stand tall.” Yet, as discounts on Russian crude dwindle, New Delhi faces a stark choice—diversify to U.S. suppliers at premium prices or double down on BRICS solidarity.

This episode exposes the fragility of multipolar diplomacy. Trump’s tariff blitz, meant to coerce a Ukraine ceasefire, has instead driven India closer to Russia, benefiting Putin while alienating a key partner. As global supply chains reel, the world watches whether economic pain will force concessions or forge new blocs. For now, Zapad-2025 stands as a stark reminder: In great-power chess, no one plays alone.