New Delhi (TDI): India has paused plans to buy several US-made weapons and aircraft, in what officials describe as the first clear sign of New Delhi’s displeasure over steep new tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.
Three Indian officials familiar with the matter said that Defense Minister Rajnath Singh had been expected to visit Washington in the coming weeks to announce the acquisitions. That trip, they said, has now been cancelled, Reuters reported.
The decision follows Trump’s August 6 order imposing an extra 25% duty on Indian goods, punishment, he said, for Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil, which he claimed were helping fund Moscow’s war in Ukraine. The additional levy has doubled tariffs on Indian exports to 50%, among the highest faced by any US trade partner.
While the White House has been known to reverse course abruptly on trade penalties, India insists it is still in talks with US officials. One official suggested the defense deals could proceed once there is clarity on tariffs and bilateral relations, but “just not as soon as expected,” the report added.
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No formal instruction has been issued to halt the purchases, another official said, meaning the decision could be quickly reversed, though for now, there has been “no forward movement.”
The purchases now on ice include Stryker combat vehicles from General Dynamics Land Systems, as well as Javelin anti-tank missiles jointly developed by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. The deals were part of a February announcement by Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expand defense cooperation, including procurement and joint production.
Read More: US-India Tensions Rise as Trump Aide Links New Delhi with Russia’s War Effort
Singh had also planned to confirm the acquisition of six Boeing P-8I reconnaissance aircraft and related support systems for the Indian Navy during his Washington visit. That $3.6 billion proposal had reached an advanced stage of negotiations, according to two of the officials.
India, which has cultivated closer strategic ties with the US in recent years, has accused Washington of applying double standards, pointing out that both the US and its European allies continue trading with Russia when it suits their interests.
Farkhund Yousafzai is an Associate Editor at The Diplomatic Insight.
