USA can not dictate terms to India on arms purchase from Russia or anywhere else
Shri Howard Lutnick ji by now should have learnt one thing : don’t dare to dictate terms to India. Your Nixon couldn’t do it in 1971 even after deploying USS Enterprise Task Force.
Your Clinton couldn’t do it in 1998 during Pokhran nuclear tests or Kargil conflict. So now jolly good fellow Trump shouldn’t try any such thing.
The United States should not even think of “urging” India to cease purchasing military equipment from Russia. Shopkeepers cannot talk in these terms with the purchasers.
India will buy whatever it requires from anywhere it feels fit to buy.India is becoming atmanirbhar in defence equipment day by day.
However for next 5 to 10 years we will need to import selective items as gap fillers or to bolster the much needed numbers.
Naturally we will first turn to our historical and most reliable and trusted friend Russia and next reliable Israel and France.
UK and USA both historically have proved to be most unreliable and untrustworthy. So naturally US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick remaking on the trusted Indo Russian partnership at the India Today Conclave, verges on hypocrisy at the least.
He and his boss both should know that the strengthening of bilateral ties between New Delhi and Washington cannot improve by uttering such nonsense or veiled threats to forces shifting of India’s defence purchases to American -made platforms.
Our Russian made platforms turned the tides during both 1965 and 1971 war against Pakistan and have been helping to defend India likewise till date.
This call may be Donald Trump’s efforts to reduce the US trade deficit with India by promoting American defence sales. However things don’t and will not happen this way.
India will not ditch its trusted friend like USA has the habit of doing to its friends / allies whenever it feels like.
Shri Lutnick also had the gumption of addressing India’s role in BRICS, criticising the bloc’s efforts to develop an alternative global currency to replace the US dollar.
He feels that such initiatives strain US-India relations, suggesting they undermine the affection and cooperation the US seeks with India. It’s a real laughable peace of argument.
We Indians also feel very aggrieved when your Govt gifts/sells weapons to Pakistan or when your Senators and Secretaries support Pannun and gang. The American habit of declaring unilateral Sanctions on others (which USA is unable to enforce) is also most irritating.
So India has rightly decided to carry out bilateral trades in local currencies. Anyway we have no desire to replace dollar with yuan as a global currency.
Even the External Affairs Minister
Shri S Jaishankar has downplayed concerns over BRICS’ currency plans, stating there is no unified stance within the block.
Shri Lutnick next raised concerns about India’s high tariffs on US products, advocating for fairer trade practices between the two nations. Here lets be clear, we will have same tarrif on your products as you have on ours.
We will not let your subsidized agricultural products flood our markets and thus hurt our farmers. Also rest be assured Trade comprises exchange of goods and Services.
So if you wish to sell your manufactured items to us then be ready to take our Services too in exchange that includes trained manpower ….its as simple as that !!! President Trump may have been vocal about these issues, discussing them with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January and during PM’s visit to USA in February.
So what it is Govt of India that will decide. During the latter meeting, Trump announced potential sales of F-35 fighter jets to India, marking a significant step in defence cooperation.
Here do remember that weapons are not consumer items that we will just pick it up.We buy only what we actually need.
The US also aims to enhance its strategic partnership with India through initiatives like the U.S.-India COMPACT, focusing on defence, trade, and technology collaboration.
Fine, so do we but based on equality.During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States, India announced the purchase of six additional P-8I maritime surveillance aircraft and we may order 18 more !!
This acquisition is part of a broader effort to enhance India’s naval capabilities, particularly in the Indian Ocean, where China’s presence has been increasing.
The P-8I aircraft, a variant of the US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon, are designed for long-range maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
The deal, valued at approximately $2.42 billion, also includes various subsystems and is seen as a significant step in strengthening US-India defence ties.
In addition to the aircraft purchase, India and the US are exploring several joint initiatives, including the potential joint production of underwater surveillance equipment.
This collaboration underscores the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region and the role of both countries in maintaining maritime security and stability.
On de dollarization, we will say that if EU or USA use currencies and Banking as a weapon then they have no right to cry over de dollarization.
This comes as countries like Russia and Iran seek alternatives due to unilateral and illegal economic sanctions limiting their access to global financial markets.
Trade relations between India and the US will certainly remain a focus area. India has agreed to a multi-sectoral bilateral trade agreement, with announcements expected later in 2025.
However, issues such as tariffs on both sides especially on agricultural products will continue to be a point of contention.
Also the USA restrictions on Services including manpower will certainly affect our trade relations unless resolved in an integrated manner.
The US has expressed concerns over its trade deficit with India, which exported INR 655000 Crores worth of goods while importing just INR 358000 crores (US $42.1 billion) in the 2023-2024 period.
