India has postponed arms purchases from the United States following President Trump's imposition of a 50% tariff. The Defence Minister's visit has also been postponed.
Trump Tariff: Trade tensions between India and the United States have now extended to the defence sector. Following the increase in tariffs by US President Donald Trump on India, India has also taken a major step. New Delhi has put on hold its plan to purchase military weapons and aircraft from the United States. Furthermore, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's proposed visit to the United States has also been postponed.
India's Response to US Tariff Decision
President Trump had announced the imposition of an additional 25 percent tariff on certain products coming from India, which came into effect on August 8th. This has brought the total tariff on Indian exports to 50 percent. This is the highest tariff imposed on any US trading partner. India considers this move unfair and, in response, has halted military purchases.
Break on Defence Deals
According to news agency Reuters, the Indian government has currently put a stop to working on any new defence agreements with the United States. This includes fighter jets, helicopters, and other high-tech defence equipment. According to sources, this move is part of India's strategy to create pressure so that India's position is strengthened in negotiations with the United States.
Rajnath Singh's US Visit Postponed
India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was scheduled to visit the United States in the second week of August. During this visit, preparations were underway to finalize some major defence deals. However, government sources have told Reuters that this visit has now been postponed. This is directly related to the new US tariff policy and India's retaliatory action.
India's Concern: Russia Oil Purchase Becomes Issue
The US tariff was mainly imposed as a reaction to India's purchase of oil from Russia. President Trump had said that India was buying cheap oil from Russia and using that money to help in the Ukraine war. This argument is unacceptable to India because India has been partnering with Russia in the energy and defence sectors for many decades.
Increased Pressure on the Diplomatic Front
India has made it clear that it is ready for constructive dialogue with Washington. However, until the situation regarding tariffs and trade policies is clarified, no new defence purchases will be made. India believes that the US tariff policy is unilateral and that it is being targeted unnecessarily.
