India denies reports of pausing defence purchase talks with US

The Indian Ministry of Defence on August 8, 2025, dismissed media reports claiming that New Delhi had paused talks on defence purchases with the United States, calling them “false and fabricated.”

In a statement, the ministry said, “the various cases of procurement are being progressed as per the extant procedures," Caliber.Az reports via Indian media. 

The clarification came after a Reuters exclusive, citing three Indian officials familiar with the matter, claimed that India had put on hold plans to procure new US weapons and aircraft. The report described the move as the first “concrete sign of discontent” following tariffs imposed on Indian exports by US President Donald Trump.

According to the Reuters report, India had planned to send Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Washington in the coming weeks to announce some of the purchases, but the trip was cancelled, two of the sources said.

On August 6, President Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil as the reason. He argued that such purchases meant India was funding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The new measure raised the total duty on Indian exports to 50% — among the highest imposed on any US trading partner.

By Sabina Mammadli