Why in the news?

• An Indian Armed Forces contingent departed to Russia, to participate in the military exercise ZAPAD 2025, scheduled to be conducted from 10 to 16 September 2025.

Exercise ZAPAD 2025

• What is it?: The Zapad exercise is a multilateral exercise series, which began during the Soviet era, has been conducted by Russia since 2009.
• Host: Russia
• Participants:
  • 7 Countries including India are directly participating in the exercise- India, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Congo, Iran, Niger and Tajikistan.
  • 13 countries are participating as Observers.
• Objectives:
  • The main focus is to enhance military cooperation, improve interoperability.
  • To provide a platform for participating nations to exchange tactics and techniques in conventional warfare and counter-terrorism operations.
  • The exercise will focus on joint company-level operations in open and plain terrains.
  • To integrate emerging technologies and improve joint operational capabilities in a multinational combat environment.
• Significance:
  • Strengthens India–Russia defence cooperation.
  • Reinforces mutual trust and camaraderie among participating forces.
  • Provides valuable exposure to multinational operational frameworks.
  • Enhances India’s preparedness for joint global security operations.