WASHINGTON D.C.: US President Donald Trump has unveiled plans to significantly enhance military sales to India, including the potential sale of advanced F-35 fighter jets, marking a major step in strengthening the bilateral defense relationship.
The announcement came during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the White House on Thursday, his first since Trump’s re-election and the start of his second term on January 20.
Speaking at a joint press conference, Trump emphasized India’s importance as a strategic partner and lauded the growing cooperation between the two nations. “Starting this year, we’ll be increasing military sales to India by billions of dollars, and we’re laying the groundwork to eventually provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters,” Trump said.
Trump also spoke highly of his personal rapport with PM Modi, describing him as a “much tougher negotiator” and underscoring the “special bond” between their countries.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening trade and defense relations, even as Trump maintained a firm stance on global economic issues. If the F-35 deal proceeds, India would join an elite group of countries, including NATO members, Israel, and Japan, operating the advanced fighter jet.
Beyond military matters, trade discussions were also a key focus. Trump, who has consistently criticized India’s tariffs, reiterated his concerns, calling them “unfair” and “very strong.” Earlier in the day, Trump announced new reciprocal tariffs on all nations, including India, creating uncertainty over the future of trade relations. However, PM Modi took a more optimistic view, stating that both nations would work towards a “mutually beneficial trade agreement” with a focus on oil and gas.
Trump also highlighted ongoing efforts to bolster economic collaboration, including investments in infrastructure projects such as ports, railways, and undersea cables. These initiatives are part of a broader plan to establish a trade route linking India to Israel and Europe.
In an unexpected move, billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk participated in discussions with Trump and Modi. As the newly appointed head of DOGE, Musk’s role raised questions about whether he was acting in an official or business capacity. Modi later shared photos of the meeting, which showed Musk alongside Indian officials.
The visit also touched on immigration issues. India recently accepted a US military flight carrying 100 detained migrants as part of Trump’s immigration crackdown, a move that faced criticism from Indian opposition leaders. However, PM Modi defended the decision, explaining that undocumented Indians in the US were at risk of exploitation by human traffickers. “Any verified Indian who is in the US illegally, we are fully prepared to take them back to India,” Modi said.
In a related development, Trump announced that the US would extradite Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a suspect involved in the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Describing Rana as “one of the very evil people in the world,” Trump confirmed that the long-awaited extradition would proceed after Rana lost his appeal in the US Supreme Court.
