President Donald Trump of the United States on Thursday said his country will increase military sales to India starting in 2025 and will eventually provide F-35 fighter jets.
Trump did not provide a timeline, but foreign military sales, especially for cutting-edge technology like the stealthy F-35 jet, typically take years to work through.
The US president, while addressing a joint news conference after a meeting with Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, also said the countries had struck an agreement that includes India importing more US oil and gas to shrink the trade deficit between the two countries.
The Republican stated that Washington and New Delhi will be working together to confront what he called the threat of radical Islamic terrorism.
“We’ll be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars. We’re also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters,” Trump said.
On his part, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that New Delhi follows an elaborate process for foreign military purchases including seeking proposals from manufacturers and evaluating them.
“I don’t think with regard to the acquisition of an advanced aviation platform by India, that process has started as yet,” he said.
