Nova Delhi suspended their plans to purchase new weapons and aircraft from USAaccording to three Indian authorities familiar with the subject, in the first concrete sign of discontent India after the tariffs imposed on their exports by the President Donald Trump They dragged the ties to the lowest level in decades.
India planned to send defense minister Rajnath Singh, Washington in the coming weeks to announce some of the purchases, but this trip was canceled, according to two of the people.
On Wednesday (6), as punishment for Russian oil purchases made by New Delhi, which, according to him, means that the country was funding the invasion of Ukraine through Russia.
This raised the total rate on Indian exports to 50% – among the highest of any US commercial partner.
The president has a history of turning back on tariffs and India said it is actively involved in discussions with Washington.
One of the people said that defense purchases could be made as soon as India had clarity on the tariffs and the direction of bilateral ties, but “not as early as it is expected.”
No written instructions were given to pause purchases, said another authority, indicating that New Delhi has the option of quickly reversing the course, although there is “no movement, at least for now.”
After the publication of this report, the Government of India issued a statement that attributed to a source from the Ministry of Defense describing the news of a break in negotiations as “false and manufactured”.
The document also reported that the acquisition was progressing according to the “existing procedures”.
Nova Delhi, who forged a close partnership with the United States in recent years, said he is being the target of unfair persecution and that Washington and his European allies continue to negotiate with Moscow when it is of interest.
Reuters is informing for the first time that discussions about Stryker Combat Vehicle India purchases made by General Dynamics Land Systems and Javelin Anti -Tank missiles developed by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin were interrupted due to tariffs.
In February, Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced plans to seek the acquisition and joint production of these items.
Singh also planned to announce the purchase of six Boeing P8I recognition aircraft and Indian Navy Support Systems during his now canceled trip, two people said.
Negotiations on the acquisition of aircraft in a proposed $ 3.6 billion agreement were at an advanced stage, according to the authorities.
Boeing, Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics referred questions to the governments of India and the US. Raytheon did not return a comment request.
Relations with Russia
The deepening of India’s security relationship with the US, fueled by its strategic rivalry shared with China, has been classified by many US analysts as one of the main areas of foreign policy progress in the first Trump government.
New Delhi is the second largest weapons importer in the world and Russia has traditionally been its main supplier.
However, in recent years, India has imported from Western powers such as France, Israel and the US, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
The change of suppliers was partly motivated by restrictions on Russia’s ability to export weapons, which is using intensely in its Ukraine invasion.
Some Russian weapons also performed badly on the battlefield, according to western analysts.
The broader defense partnership between the US and India, which includes intelligence sharing and joint military exercises, remains smoothly, one of the Indian authorities said.
India also remains open to reducing Russian oil imports and making agreements elsewhere, including the US, if you get similar prices, according to two other Indian sources.
