Trump Announces Sale of F-35 Fighter Jets to India Amid Strengthening Ties with PM Modi

US President Trump and Indian PM Modi discuss military cooperation, trade deals, and tariffs as Washington prepares to supply India with state-of-the-art stealth fighters.

February 14, 2025: US to Sell Advanced F-35 Fighter Jets to India, Confirms Trump

In a major development in US-India defense cooperation, President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will supply India with state-of-the-art F-35 stealth fighter jets, marking a historic shift in military relations between the two nations.

Also Read: Trump Welcomes PM Modi With A Hug, Says “We Missed You A Lot”

Speaking at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Trump revealed that Washington would significantly increase military sales to India, adding that billions of dollars in defense agreements were in the pipeline.

Also Read: Trump’s ‘Reciprocal Tariffs’ Plan Looms Over PM Modi Meeting: A New Trade War?

“Starting this year, 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 at the White House.

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Modi-Trump Meeting: Strengthening Strategic Partnerships

PM Modi, who is among the first world leaders to visit the White House since Trump’s re-election, reciprocated the gesture by praising Trump’s leadership and reaffirming India’s commitment to deepening bilateral ties.

“We share a special bond with the US. Our discussions will strengthen cooperation in defense, trade, and energy security,” said Modi, emphasizing that a new trade deal was on the horizon.

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Elon Musk Joins the Meeting, Sparks Speculation

Adding an unexpected twist, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk was present at the high-profile meeting.

Musk, who is also spearheading Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), engaged in separate discussions with PM Modi, fueling speculation over whether his presence was official or business-related.

Images of Modi shaking hands with a smiling Musk—flanked by children on Musk’s side and Indian officials on the other—quickly went viral.

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Trade Talks: Tariffs Still a Sticking Point

Despite the F-35 deal, tensions remain over trade policies. Trump reaffirmed his stance on reciprocal tariffs, labeling India one of the most protectionist economies.

“India, traditionally, is one of the highest tariff countries. Doing business there is extremely difficult due to excessive duties,” Trump remarked.

Earlier in the day, the US President signed an executive order enforcing reciprocal tariffs, impacting India and other major trading partners.

India, however, preemptively reduced tariffs on US imports such as high-end motorcycles, offering a boost to brands like Harley-Davidson—one of Trump’s longstanding trade grievances.

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India’s Response: Military, Trade, and Immigration

Beyond defense and trade, immigration also surfaced as a key issue.

• India recently accepted a US military flight carrying 100 deported migrants shackled in chains, aligning with Trump’s strict immigration policies.
• The US is set to expand energy exports to India, focusing on oil and gas trade.
• Quad alliance diplomacy: Trump could visit India later this year for a Quad summit involving India, the US, Japan, and Australia to counter China’s growing influence.

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What This Means for India and the US

The announcement of F-35 sales to India is a major milestone, significantly boosting India’s air power while deepening US-India military ties.

However, trade tensions remain unresolved, with Trump’s tariffs posing new challenges for Indian exports.

As the two leaders continue negotiations, the world watches closely to see if the partnership evolves into a strategic powerhouse or a battlefield of economic conflicts.

Tags: Trump, Modi, F35, USIndiaRelations, DefenseDeals, TradeWar, ReciprocalTariffs,