India has ‘crossed the red line’ and joins Russia and Belarus Zapad military drills showing allegiance to Putin

Thousands of troops from Russia and Belarus have been rehearsing war with NATO and now India has joined the military exercises.

Russia and Belarus have around 30,000 soldiers and India has sent around 65 military personnel who are training for war with NATO.

The Indian Defence Ministry said the personnel include some Vladimir Putin’s troops as they are “further strengthen defence co-operation and foster camaraderie between India and Russia, thereby reinforcing the spirit of collaboration and mutual trust.”

India has one of the worlds largest armies with around 1.5 million active military personnel with reserves of 960,000.

David Merkel, an American geostrategy consultant who previously led the Europe and Eurasia divisions of the US State Department said, “India’s active participation in the Zapad exercise, following the drone incursion on Poland and chilling relations between Washington and New Delhi, raises concerns about the future extent of the US-India security relationship.

“[It] demonstrates the priority New Delhi places on its relations with Moscow, something Modi is leaning on more given the uncertainty of his relationship with President Trump.”

German foreign policy analyst Ulrich Speck said that Delhi has “crossed the red line.”