Washington: President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will significantly increase military sales to India, amounting to “many billions of dollars”. He also confirmed plans to provide India with F-35 stealth fighter jets, a move that would integrate New Delhi into an exclusive group of nations equipped with cutting-edge aerial combat technology.
VIDEO | Speaking at a joint press meet along with PM Modi, US President Donald Trump (@realDonaldTrump) says, "Starting this year, we will be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars. We are also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35… pic.twitter.com/LQbVqAFBKT
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 13, 2025
Trump made the remarks during a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi following their high-profile meeting in Washington, D.C., a key moment in Modi’s diplomatic visit to the United States.
“Starting this year, we will be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars. We are also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 Stealth fighters,” Trump stated while addressing the media.
He further emphasized the importance of strategic alliances in the Indo-Pacific region, adding, “In 2017, my administration revived the Quad security partnership, and in our meeting today, the PM and I reaffirmed the strong cooperation between the US, India, Australia, and Japan, and it is crucial really to maintain peace, prosperity, tranquillity in the Indo-Pacific.”
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared his thoughts on India-U.S. relations, emphasizing:
“In India, we are working towards a ‘Viksit Bharat,’ which, in the American context, translates to MIGA.”
Addressing the press meet with @POTUS @realDonaldTrump. https://t.co/u9a3p0nTKf
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 13, 2025
Aero India 2025 Showcases Global Airpower
During the recently concluded Aero India 2025 international airshow, the presence of an American F-35 stealth fighter alongside Russia’s next-generation Su-57 Felon highlighted the global race for aerial supremacy. These advanced fifth-generation aircraft represent the pinnacle of modern military aviation.
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The Indian Defence Ministry acknowledged the significance of the event, stating, “It marks a milestone in global defence collaboration and technological advancement, offering aviation enthusiasts and defence experts an unparalleled prospect to witness these state-of-the-art warplanes.”
The planned acquisition of F-35s could further deepen US-India defence ties, reinforcing strategic cooperation amid evolving security challenges in the region.
