New Delhi has paused plans to buy new US weapons and aircraft, Indian officials said. The move comes after US tariffs on Indian exports imposed by President Donald Trump strained ties between the two countries.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was scheduled to visit Washington in the coming weeks. He was expected to announce several defence purchases. The trip has been cancelled, two officials said.
The suspended deals include Stryker combat vehicles from General Dynamics, Javelin anti-tank missiles from Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, and six Boeing P8I reconnaissance aircraft for the navy. Talks on the $3.6 billion aircraft deal were at an advanced stage.
No formal order to stop the purchases has been issued. Delhi could reverse the decision, but there is “no forward movement for now,” an official said.
The US-India defence partnership, including intelligence sharing and joint exercises, continues. However, Trump’s trade measures and rising anti-US sentiment have made it politically harder for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to shift from Russian to US arms.
India remains the world’s second-largest arms importer. While it has increased purchases from Western suppliers in recent years, it still depends on Russian systems for maintenance and support.
