New Delhi postpones plans to purchase American weapons.
India has temporarily suspended plans to buy new weapons and aircraft from the United States, government sources told Reuters. The move is the first practical sign of India’s displeasure after US President Donald Trump decided to impose heavy tariffs on Indian exports.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was due to visit Washington in the coming weeks to announce new defence purchases, but the trip has been cancelled.
On August 6, Trump imposed a 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, citing New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil. The move brings the total tariff on Indian exports to the US to 50 per cent, one of the highest among Washington’s trading partners.
The purchase of General Dynamics’ Stryker armored vehicles and Raytheon-Lockheed Martin’s Javelin anti-tank missiles, along with a $3.6 billion deal for six Boeing P8I maritime patrol aircraft, have been put on hold, sources said.
Although India’s Defense Ministry called reports of stalled talks “false and fabricated” after the news broke, saying the purchase process was proceeding as per current procedures, sources said no decision would be made on whether to proceed with the purchases until the tariff situation and the future of bilateral relations were clarified.
US-India defense ties have expanded in recent years due to shared concerns about China, but Washington’s pressure on buying Russian oil and rising anti-American nationalism in India have complicated New Delhi’s decisions. Despite the reduction in Russian oil discounts, India has said it is ready to buy from other sources, including the United States, if it receives the right price.