No F-35 For India, It Would Seem: While headlines swirl over Donald Trump’s surprise 25% tariff on Indian exports, a more strategic story lies buried beneath the surface: India has quietly signaled it is not interested in purchasing the US-made F-35 stealth fighter jets — a flagship offer in Washington’s trade wishlist.
India Looks Like a No on F-35
According to Bloomberg sources familiar with internal discussions, India has conveyed to US officials that it is “not keen” on buying the high-end Lockheed Martin aircraft, despite the offer being extended during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the White House earlier this year.
Perhaps even more disturbing, an Indian official just stated today that “[N]o formal discussions have been held as yet on this issue.”
The F-35s, while symbolically potent, are reportedly not part of New Delhi’s plan to placate Washington or narrow the $43 billion US-India trade imbalance.
Instead, Indian officials are considering increasing imports of liquefied natural gas, communication equipment, gold, and other US goods.
But additional defense spending — especially a costly foreign weapons purchase — is off the table for now, it would seem.
‘Made in India’ Kills Stealth Fighter Deal?
Behind this decision is a strategic recalibration for New Delhi.
India, which has long pushed for technological partnerships rather than simple buyer-seller arrangements, appears to be prioritizing co-production and indigenous development under its “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” (self-reliant India) campaigns. Joint development, not off-the-shelf purchases, remains New Delhi’s preferred approach.
That might also mean India won’t proceed with a purchase of Russia’s 5th-generation fighters, either the Su-57 Felon or the Su-75 Checkmate.
Clearly, anything from China, such as the J-35, would also be out of the mix.
The Timing Isn’t Good
The timing couldn’t be more sensitive. Trump’s tariffs — announced just days after seemingly warm bilateral discussions — stunned Indian officials, many of whom had hoped to finalize a trade deal by autumn.
Piyush Goya, India’s Commerce Minister, was previously in favor of the deal, but is now scrambling to assure Parliament that his administration is weighing up its impact, including by consulting industry experts.
No Major Indian Retaliation Expected, Yet
Despite the political outcry and jitters on the stock market, India is yet to make any bold retaliatory moves.
Indian officials have stressed their right to respond at the World Trade Organization, however.
Trump’s tariff weaponry, paired with veiled threats over India’s energy ties to Russia, has shifted the diplomatic landscape.
For Trump, who derided India’s trade barriers as “strenuous and obnoxious” and dismissed both India and Russia as “dead economies,” the F-35 offer may have been a litmus test for loyalty. India’s disinterest will likely register in Washington as defiance — even if cloaked in polite bureaucratic silence.
Does this drama mark a significant rupture in Washington’s relations with New Delhi? Or a mere temporary blip?
It is too soon to tell, but with defense deals off the table and Trump’s tone hardening, the runway for compromise appears to be narrowing fast. However, at least for now, the F-35 won’t be part of the mix.
And that means a lot of broken hearts in the White House but also American defense contractors, who would have made billions of dollars in profits on any transaction involving the F-35.
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
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