India Postpones U.S. Visit to Expand Defense Relations

• Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has postponed his visit to the U.S., originally scheduled for the last week of August.

• The visit is likely to take place within the next couple of months.

• This comes amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to refuse trade talks with India until the tariff issue is resolved.

• The tariff was increased from 25% to 50% due to India’s imports of crude oil from Russia.

• U.S. Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth invited Singh to the U.S. for an in-person meeting to advance bilateral defence cooperation.

• The U.S. and India launched a bilateral Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) in 2023 to expand strategic technology and defense industrial cooperation.

• Discussions on co-production of Stryker infantry combat vehicles and Javelin anti-tank missiles have taken place.

• India has approved procurement of 31 armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) built by General Atomics for up to $4 billion.