New Delhi: India has reportedly shelved plans to purchase advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets from the United States following former President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff on Indian exports. Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the matter, stated that New Delhi is now unlikely to proceed with any major defence procurements from the US in the near future.
The development comes after Trump declared that India would face steep tariffs starting August 1, accusing the country of maintaining excessively high tariffs and non-monetary trade barriers. “India is our friend, but their trade practices have made business very difficult. Their tariffs are among the highest in the world,” Trump said, adding that India’s close military and energy ties with Russia also influenced his decision.
According to the report, India has communicated to the US its disinterest in acquiring the F-35s — a deal Trump had proposed during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington in February 2025. Instead, India is reportedly focusing on strengthening domestic defence manufacturing through joint development initiatives, a priority for the Modi government under its ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ (self-reliant India) mission.
Despite the tariff escalation, India is not planning any immediate countermeasures. Instead, efforts are underway to maintain diplomatic balance and keep trade negotiations on track. Officials quoted in the report said India may increase imports of US natural gas, communication gear, and gold — moves that could help offset its trade surplus with the US over the next few years.
The former US President also criticized India’s long-standing defence and energy partnerships with Russia, stating, “India has always bought the majority of its military equipment from Russia and is one of its largest energy customers. This isn’t acceptable while the world is trying to stop the war in Ukraine.”
In a sharp comment, Trump added, “I don’t care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care.”
As tensions rise, the Indian government appears to be treading cautiously, aiming to de-escalate while safeguarding its economic and strategic interests.
