August 9, 2025

Hold your horses, defense buffs! India is hitting the brakes on some serious weapons and aircraft purchases from the US. Why? Because President Donald Trump slapped a hefty 25% extra tariff on Indian goods – making it a total 50% due to previous taxes – just this week! This angry tax hike came as a penalty for India’s bold move to keep buying Russian oil, which Trump warned helps fund Russia's war in Ukraine. According to Reuters and three Indian officials, India planned to send Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Washington for a grand announcement on these purchases. But guess what? The trip was suddenly cancelled! Two insiders said the big plans for buying cool things like Stryker combat vehicles from General Dynamics, deadly Javelin anti-tank missiles made by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, and six Boeing P8I spying planes have all hit pause. India fired back, telling Reuters that reports about stopping talks are "false and fabricated" and that buying weapons continues normally as per official steps. But one official hinted the wait is about getting clarity on these wild tariffs and where India-US ties are headed. The story doesn’t stop there! India and the US have been tight lately, especially because both see China as a big rival. India is the second biggest arms buyer in the world, moving away from its old buddy Russia for weapons to new pals like the US, France, and Israel. But Russia keeps pitching new missile systems to India, though India feels it doesn’t need fresh weapons from Moscow now. Trump’s latest tariff has stirred a hornet’s nest in trade and security talks. Indian sources say it’s tough for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to drop Russia when political feelings turn anti-US. Still, India is open to buying oil and other goods from the US if the price is right. Despite this tariff drama, India’s deeper defense deals — like sharing military secrets and training together — are still rolling smoothly. But now, the world watches: will India give the green light soon again for those big weapon buys, or is this tariff war here to stay?

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Tags: India-us relations, Defense purchases, Donald trump, Tariffs, Russian oil, Military procurement,