India has joined the Russian-Belarusian military exercises “Zapad-2025”, sending its military contingent. This is reports The Times.
In the Ministry of Defense of India, it was announced that 65 servicemen were sent for training, among them fighters of the Kumaon Regiment, one of the most respected units of the army. They are located at the Yudino training ground, which is about 40 miles west of Nizhny Novgorod, away from NATO borders.
“We want to further strengthen defense cooperation and strengthen friendly relations between India and Russia, thereby strengthening the spirit of cooperation and mutual trust”, the statement said.
The department also noted that the Indian military will participate in “joint training, tactical exercises and practicing special weapons skills” together with his Russian colleagues.
Even before the full-scale war against Ukraine, India had already participated in previous exercises “West” and later visited other Russian military maneuvers. At the same time, according to analysts, the country’s decision to join the current exercises during the period of escalation between Russia and NATO has become an alarming signal.
About 30,000 military personnel of both countries are participating in the current maneuvers of Russia and Belarus. The exercise program includes ballistic missile launches and simulated airstrikes. They take place over a large area — from bases east of Moscow and in the Arctic to the Baltic Sea and the western border of Belarus.
