Bangladesh, India take part in Russia-Belarus joint military drills

Published : Wednesday, 17 September, 2025 at 1:51 PM Count : 87

Bangladeshi troops participated in the Russian-led Zapad-2025 military drills, according to Russian state agency TASS.

"The coalition force includes task forces and military contingents from the armed forces of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, the Republic of Belarus, the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Iran, as well as Burkina Faso, Congo, and Mali" state agency TASS quoted the Kremlin as saying.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday said 100,000 troops were participating in the Zapad (West) joint drills with Belarus, during a surprise visit to the exercise, part of which took place close to NATO borders, AFP reports.

Minsk earlier said only 7,000 troops were participating in the Belarusian stage of the drills, which was observed by US army representatives.

Putin, wearing a military uniform attended the drills, said, "Today we are conducting the final part of the Zapad 2025 strategic exercise where 100,000 servicemen are taking part."

Putin added that the drills were aimed at exercising "repelling potential aggression against the Union State," referring to the allied entity of Russia and Belarus.

Russia said it had exercised a launch of its latest Zirkon supersonic navy missile from a frigate in the Barents Sea on Sunday. Nuclear weapons deployment planning was also drilled during the Zapad exercise, reports Belarusian army.

AFP reports, the Zapad manoeuvres have put NATO's eastern members on high alert following the downing of Russian drones in Poland last week, which has prompted Warsaw to shut the border with Belarus.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated the drills are designed to simulate occupation of the Suwalki corridor, a strategically important area in Poland. Warsaw said it would station around 40,000 troops near the Belarus border for the duration of the drills, AFP reports.

Iran, a close strategic partner to Russia, also participated in the Russia led Zapad-2025 drills.

The western intelligences claims that Iran is supplying Russia its self-detonating Shahed drones and ballistic missiles used in the Ukraine war.

AFP reports that around 200,000 troops participated in the 2021 edition of Zapad, staged just months before Moscow sent forces into Ukraine.

FP/MI