India has deployed sixty-five armed personnel to the Russia-led Zapad-2025 military exercise, a multi-nation drill in Nizhny Novgorod that tests conventional and counter-terrorism capabilities in emerging-threat scenarios. At a time when China and Russia are advancing joint training and wargaming, India’s involvement serves two core objectives: building operational interoperability and gathering vital insights as the Indo-Pacific equations change.
Zapad-2025 is more than just a routine drill. It’s a proving ground for futuristic tactics, AI-enabled combat, and rapid force mobility under simulated hybrid warfare. For India, participation strengthens its strategic autonomy position—balancing US partnerships with continued engagement inside the Russia-China security tent.
As global alliances fracture and reorder, India’s consistent track record of joining major multilateral drills signals both non-aligned pragmatism and preparations for “high-end” warfighting scenarios. Expect lessons from Zapad-2025 to feed directly into India’s ongoing doctrinal, technological, and tactical reforms.
