India to purchase over US$3b defence equipment from US
NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump said yesterday India will buy US$3 billion (RM12.7 billion) worth of military equipment, including attack helicopters, as the two countries deepen defence and commercial ties in an attempt to balance the weight of China in the region.
India and the United States were also making progress on a big trade deal, Trump said. Negotiators from the two sides have wrangled for months to narrow differences on farm goods, medical devices, digital trade and new tariffs.
Yesterday, Trump sat down for one-on-one talks with Modi followed by delegation-level meetings to try and move forward on issues that have divided them, mainly the festering trade dispute.
After those meetings, Trump said his visit had been productive with the conclusion of deals to buy helicopters for the Indian military.
India is buying 24 SeaHawk helicopters from Lockheed Martin equipped with Hellfire missiles worth US$2.6 billion and also plans a follow-on order for six Apache helicopters.
India is modernising its military to narrow the gap with China and has increasingly turned to the United States over traditional supplier, Russia.
Trump said the two countries were also making progress on a trade deal, which had been an area of growing friction between them.
“Our teams have made tremendous progress on a comprehensive trade agreement and I’m optimistic we can reach a deal that will be of great importance to both countries,” said Trump in remarks made alongside Modi.
The two countries had initially planned to produce a “mini deal”, but that proved elusive. Instead both sides are now aiming for a bigger package, including possibly a free trade agreement.
Trump said he also discussed with Modi the importance of a secure 5G telecoms network in India, ahead of a planned airwaves auction by the country.
In New Delhi, Trump was given a formal state welcome yesterday at the red sandstone presidential palace with a 21-cannon gun salute and a red coated honour guard on horseback. – Reuters