Trump, Modi plan deepened US-India defense ties, F-35 sales

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump have announced a significant enhancement of defense cooperation between India and the U.S., including plans to sell advanced defense systems like F-35 stealth fighter jets. In a joint statement, they outlined a new 10-year framework aimed at elevating military collaboration across various domains and improving logistics and intelligence sharing in the Indo-Pacific. Indian military experts express cautious optimism, noting that while this expansion is crucial for India's defense capabilities, it will take time to reduce reliance on Russian arms. Meanwhile, Pakistan has reacted negatively to the joint statement, describing it as unilateral and misleading, and has raised concerns about the potential impact on regional stability. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to combat terrorism and eliminate terrorist safe havens globally, emphasizing the need for concerted action against groups like Al-Qaida and ISIS. The evolving U.S.-India relationship is seen as a strategic counterbalance to regional threats, particularly from Pakistan.