In the wake of US President Donald Trump's aggressive 50 per cent tariff move against India, a media report claimed that Defence Minister Rajnath Singh cancelled a planned trip to the US.
According to a Reuters report, India has also paused talks to procure defence equipment from the US, including Stryker combat vehicles made by General Dynamics Land Systems, Javelin missiles developed by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, and some Boeing reconnaissance planes.
The report claims that Singh was to make a few announcements in the US regarding some of these planned procurements. However, this claim was refuted by Indian defence ministry officials.
What did the Reuters report say
Reuters had quoted an official as saying that the weapon purchases will go ahead if and when India has clarity on tariffs and where the ties between the two countries are headed.
"Written instructions had not been given to pause the purchases," another official has been quoted as saying.
The report said Singh was planning to announce the purchase of six Boeing P8I reconnaissance aircraft and support systems at a cost of $3.6 billion for the Indian Navy.
Nonetheless, one of the officials clarified that the broader US-India defence engagements, including intelligence sharing and joint military drills, are continuing without any hurdles.
Defence officials clarify
However, senior defence officials rejected the Reuters report saying it was “false and fabricated" and added that the various procurement deals are being processed as per extant procedures.
“The news reports on India pausing the talks related to defence purchases with the US are false and fabricated. It is clarified that the various cases of procurement are being progressed as per extant procedures," a statement from the defence ministry officials read.
It is to be noted that a few months ago, during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US, the India and PM and Trump had welcomed the significant integration of US-origin defence items into India's inventory to date, including C 130J Super Hercules, C 17 Globemaster III, P 8I Poseidon aircraft; CH 47F Chinooks, MH 60R Seahawks, and AH 64E Apaches; Harpoon anti-ship missiles; M777 howitzers; and MQ 9Bs.
Trump had then said the US would expand defence sales and co-production with India to strengthen interoperability and defence industrial cooperation.
