America sells $93 million worth of weapons to India

According to Isna, the US State Department announced that the country has approved two arms sales to India worth $92.8 million (£71 million), including Javelin anti-tank missiles and Excalibur precision artillery missiles.

This comes nine months after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Donald Trump in Washington, where both leaders pledged to “advance defense ties”. In October, the meeting led to the signing of a framework agreement to expand defense cooperation over the next 10 years.

The move comes as India looks to diversify its arms suppliers from Russia amid reports that Trump has asked the country to buy more weapons from the United States, the BBC reported.

While Russia remains India’s main source of arms supply, its share has declined from 62 percent to 34 percent between 2017 and 2023 as India shifts to purchasing from the United States.

On the other hand, India’s defense trade with the United States has grown from nearly zero to $20 billion, making the United States the third largest arms supplier to India after Russia and France.

The US State Department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said the weapons “improve India’s ability to counter current and future threats.”

The US agency announced that the $45.7 million sale of the Javelin missile system, including 100 FGM-148 Javelin missiles, a fly-to-bay missile and 25 command light launch units, had been approved. The package also includes simulation bullets, training, spare parts, technical assistance and other logistical support.

In a separate announcement, the department approved a $47.1 million sale of up to 216 M982A1 Excalibur tactical missiles, along with fire control systems, detonators, propellant charges, technical data and repair services.

The Defense Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said the proposed sales would support “US foreign policy and national security objectives” by strengthening the US’s strategic relationship with India, describing it as an “important force for political stability, peace and economic progress” in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia.

The two statements said that India would have “no problem in absorbing” this equipment into its armed forces.

According to the BBC, this development has taken place at the same time as the two countries are trying to close a trade agreement and reduce tensions after Trump imposed 50% tariffs on India, including a 25% penalty for buying oil and weapons from Russia. But tensions seem to be gradually easing after months of uncertainty.

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