Trump Offers Advanced Fighter Jets to India

News Desk

Washington: US President Donald Trump has proposed selling state-of-the-art fighter jets to India as he and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to enhance trade and defense cooperation, reinforcing a partnership that contrasts with Trump’s otherwise protectionist stance toward global allies.

Modi, the fourth world leader to visit the White House since Trump’s return, described the US president as a “friend” and echoed his “Make America Great Again” slogan with his own version. Trump, in turn, spoke of a “special bond” with Modi and India, even admitting—albeit with irony—that Modi was a “much tougher negotiator” than himself.

Acknowledging India’s strategic importance in countering China’s rise, Trump announced that the US was prepared to sell F-35 stealth fighters to India. “Starting this year, we’ll be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars,” Trump stated in a joint press conference with Modi. “We’re also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters.”

If finalized, India would join an exclusive group of nations, including NATO allies, Israel, and Japan, permitted to acquire the advanced jets, which can operate undetected at supersonic speeds.

Expanding Trade and Investment

Building on an initiative started by his predecessor Joe Biden, Trump revealed plans for joint investment in ports, railways, and undersea cable infrastructure to establish “one of the greatest trade routes in all of history,” connecting India to Israel, Europe, and beyond.

Despite strengthening ties, economic tensions remain. Just hours before the meeting, Trump announced new reciprocal tariffs on all trading partners, including India. He criticized India’s “unfair, very strong tariffs,” calling them a “big problem” while expressing optimism about resolving trade imbalances.

Modi, in response, affirmed that the two nations would work on a “mutually beneficial trade agreement” to be finalized “very soon,” emphasizing cooperation in energy trade, particularly oil and gas.

Musk’s Presence Raises Questions

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, who has been playing a key role in Trump’s efforts to restructure the U.S. bureaucracy, also attended the meeting. Modi later held a private discussion with Musk, prompting speculation about whether the Tesla and SpaceX CEO met the Indian leader in an official or business capacity.

Modi shared images of the meeting, in which he was seen shaking hands with Musk alongside Indian officials, while Musk was accompanied by several children. Modi later noted that he had known Musk since before assuming office.

Addressing Trade Barriers and Immigration

In an effort to ease tensions ahead of his visit, Modi made tariff concessions, including reducing duties on high-end motorcycles—an advantage for U.S. manufacturer Harley-Davidson, whose struggles in India have frustrated Trump.

India also accepted a US military flight carrying 100 shackled migrants as part of Trump’s immigration crackdown, a move that sparked opposition backlash in India. Modi defended the decision, stating that undocumented Indians in the US were victims of human traffickers and vowing to repatriate any verified Indian illegal immigrant.

Meanwhile, Trump announced that the U.S. would extradite Tahawwur Hussain Rana, a Canadian citizen of Pakistani origin convicted in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Calling Rana “one of the very evil people in the world,” Trump confirmed his extradition was proceeding after a failed Supreme Court appeal.

Strategic Alliances

Both leaders, known for their nationalist policies and strong leadership styles, reinforced their alignment on security and economic strategies. Modi previously hosted Trump in 2020, drawing over 100,000 supporters at the inauguration of the world’s largest cricket stadium in Gujarat.

Trump is expected to visit India later this year for a summit of the Quad—a strategic alliance comprising the US, India, Japan, and Australia.

Avoiding Human Rights Concerns

While the discussions covered defense and trade, human rights issues were notably absent. Analysts suggest that under Trump’s administration, Washington’s approach toward India remains interest-driven, with little emphasis on values such as human rights.

Unlike former President Joe Biden’s administration, which occasionally condemned rights violations in India, Trump’s foreign policy remains largely transactional. “Trump is unlikely to take a position on rights issues in India,” said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center. “His policy is firmly based on strategic interests rather than values.”

Both Trump and Modi have faced criticism from human rights organizations for policies seen as suppressing minority rights and dissent. However, with India emerging as a crucial partner in countering China and expanding U.S. trade, Washington’s bipartisan focus remains on strengthening ties with New Delhi rather than addressing human rights concerns.