India’s Participation in Russia–Belarus War Games: Why It Has Alarmed NATO and the US

Sep 18, 2025

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India’s foreign policy has long been characterised by strategic autonomy, balancing relationships with major powers on all sides. This approach has once again come into focus after India sent a military contingent to take part in joint war games hosted by Russia and Belarus. The exercise, featuring conventional as well as tactical nuclear drills, has created ripples across the Atlantic, with NATO and the United States reportedly unsettled by India’s decision.

This article explains the nature of the drills, India’s participation, why Western nations are reacting strongly, and what this means for the future of India’s global relations.

Understanding the Russia–Belarus War Games

Russia and Belarus conduct periodic large-scale military exercises known as Zapad (“West” in Russian). The 2025 edition featured a range of combat scenarios including ground operations, missile drills, drone warfare, electronic countermeasures, and practice with tactical nuclear systems. What makes this edition particularly sensitive is its location in Belarus — directly bordering NATO members such as Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.

For NATO, such exercises have long been seen as potential rehearsals for large-scale conflict or aggressive posturing against its eastern flank. This year’s drills were larger and more complex, incorporating hypersonic systems and advanced command-and-control structures, which naturally drew even greater scrutiny.

India’s Participation

India sent a small but notable contingent of about 60–70 armed forces personnel, mainly from the Army’s infantry units, to participate. While this is far smaller than the thousands of troops mobilised by Russia and Belarus, the symbolism of a major non-Western democracy joining war games led by Moscow at such a sensitive time is significant.

India’s stated rationale has generally been operational familiarity. Much of India’s defence hardware — tanks, fighter jets, missiles — originates from Russian systems. Participating in these exercises helps Indian troops stay proficient with that equipment, build interoperability, and maintain training standards.

Why NATO and the US Are Concerned

Western reaction stems from a mix of strategic, political, and optical factors.

Concern Area	Explanation
Proximity to NATO Borders	Exercises were conducted near or on the borders of NATO member states, increasing perceptions of direct threat.
Inclusion of Nuclear Drills	The use of tactical nuclear rehearsal elevates the stakes, making any participation more controversial.
Signal of Non-Alignment	India’s involvement highlights its willingness to maintain close ties with Russia despite Western pressure.
Timing with Global Tensions	Ongoing conflicts and sanctions against Russia mean any collaboration is viewed through a harsher lens.
Impact on Future Cooperation	NATO and the US may question India’s reliability as a security partner in other theatres.

While India’s participation is small in scale, the optics are powerful. For many Western observers, seeing Indian soldiers at an exercise simulating conflict with NATO undermines efforts to draw India closer to Western strategic frameworks.

India’s Strategic Calculus

India’s foreign policy doctrine has long emphasised “multi-alignment” rather than strict non-alignment. By joining the Russia–Belarus drills, New Delhi appears to be signalling several things:

Operational Readiness: India’s armed forces need to remain familiar with Russian-origin platforms that still form the backbone of its arsenal.
Balanced Diplomacy: Maintaining ties with Moscow ensures continued supply chains, spare parts, and joint ventures in defence technology.
Independent Foreign Policy: India is demonstrating that it will act in its own interest and not simply follow the preferences of any bloc.

This stance also helps India retain leverage. By keeping relations active with both Moscow and Washington, India can negotiate better terms, maintain energy imports at discounted rates, and preserve strategic autonomy.

Risks and Trade-Offs

However, participating in such exercises is not without costs.

Diplomatic Pushback: Western governments may privately express displeasure, which could complicate defence and intelligence cooperation.
Perception Problems: Even if the exercise was limited in scope for India, the perception in Europe and the US may be of India tilting towards Russia.
Security Concerns: Being associated with drills that include nuclear tactics or hypersonic systems can bring added scrutiny.

India will need to manage these optics carefully. Future engagement with the US-led Indo-Pacific frameworks, technology transfer deals, and security dialogues may all be influenced by how this participation is interpreted.

The Larger Geopolitical Picture

India’s participation in the Russia–Belarus exercise should be seen as part of a broader strategy rather than an isolated move.

Defence Diversification: While India is buying more equipment from France, the US, and Israel, it still depends heavily on Russian systems. Maintaining training links is therefore practical.
Energy Security: Russia remains a key supplier of discounted oil. Stable relations are beneficial for India’s economy.
Message of Independence: As global power blocs harden, India prefers to remain flexible, positioning itself as a swing state that can engage with all sides.

This balancing act is delicate. Too much engagement with Russia could erode trust with the West; too little could jeopardise vital defence and energy interests.

Possible Future Scenarios

Scenario	Implications for India
Continued Participation	India cements its role as an independent actor but may face sharper Western criticism.
Reduced Engagement	May placate NATO but risk weakening ties with Russia and losing leverage.
Multilateral Balancing	India increases joint exercises with Western nations to counterbalance participation in Russian-led drills.

Which path India takes will depend on how the global security environment evolves, especially regarding Russia’s relations with the West and China’s rising power in Asia.

Conclusion

India’s decision to participate in the Russia–Belarus war games has once again spotlighted its complex balancing act in foreign policy. While the move may strengthen operational readiness and protect long-standing defence ties, it also risks unsettling partners in NATO and the US. Managing this tension will be crucial for India as it seeks to navigate an increasingly polarised global landscape without compromising its strategic autonomy.

Disclaimer

All information in this article is based on publicly available details at the time of writing. Actual troop numbers, exercise content, and diplomatic positions may evolve. Readers are encouraged to follow official statements and policy updates for the most current information. This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not represent the official position of any government or organisation.