India postpones US arms & aircraft purchases, cancels defense minister’s Washington visit

India has postponed plans to acquire new American weapons and aircraft and canceled a planned visit to Washington by Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, according to three Indian officials familiar with the situation. This move signals a significant cooling in ties between the two countries, reaching a low not seen in decades following U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Indian exports.

Singh was expected to visit Washington soon to announce new defense deals, but sources confirmed the trip was canceled. On August 6, Trump imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil, which he claimed was financing Moscow’s war in Ukraine. This raised total tariffs on Indian exports to 50 percent — among the highest applied to any U.S. trade partner.

Talks to purchase Stryker combat vehicles from General Dynamics and Javelin anti-tank missiles from Raytheon and Lockheed Martin have been halted. Singh was also set to announce the purchase of six Boeing P-81 surveillance aircraft for the Indian Navy in a $3.6 billion deal. While defense discussions continue, officials said procurement will move forward only once there is clarity on tariffs and bilateral relations.

India, the world’s second-largest arms importer, has diversified its defense suppliers toward countries like France, Israel, and the U.S., partly due to Russia’s reduced export capacity amid the Ukraine conflict. However, officials note that India is unlikely to fully sever military ties with Moscow because of decades of dependence.

Despite these tensions, broader U.S.-India defense cooperation — including intelligence sharing and joint military exercises — remains intact, although rising nationalism and Trump’s rhetoric have complicated New Delhi’s delicate balancing act between Washington and Moscow.