US, India agree on military deal worth $3 billion: Trump

In India, US President Donald Trump has talked of an agreement between New Delhi and Washington for the purchase of American military equipment, including attack helicopters, worth more than $3 billion.

According to reports, Trump made the remarks at a joint press conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the capital New Delhi on Tuesday.

“Earlier today we expanded our defense cooperation with agreements for India to purchase more than $3 billion of advanced American military equipment, including Apache & MH-60 Romeo Helicopters — finest in the world. These will enhance our joint defense capabilities,” Trump said on the second day of his two-day visit to the South Asian nation.

New Delhi and Washington are yet to sign a trade deal, but the two countries would begin talks to strike a comprehensive agreement, they both said.

Elsewhere, Trump said he had discussed with Modi, whom he called his “dear friend,” the importance of a secure 5G telecoms network in India, ahead of a planned airwaves auction by the country.

The US has banned China’s Huawei Technologies, arguing the use of its kit creates the potential for espionage by China — a claim denied by Huawei and Beijing — but India, where telecoms companies have long used network gear from the Chinese firm, is yet to make a call.

The US remains the top trading partner for India. The bilateral trade between the two countries is approximately 62 percent in goods and 38 percent in services.

India, on the other hand, has been improving ties with Russia, in a move that aggravated Washington and prompted it to threaten New Delhi with sanctions earlier in January over a plan to purchase advanced Russian-made S-400 missile defense systems.

Trump’s visit to India comes following days of protests in the country over a new citizenship law which offers a path to Indian citizenship for religious minorities in neighboring countries, but excludes Muslims.

SS