India suspends discussions on the purchase of six American maritime patrol planes P-8 Poseidon

On August 6, US President Donald Trump doubled by imposing 25 % additional customs duties on India imports to the United States. Similarly, This decision was made “due to the continuous purchase of Russian oil” by New Delhi, justified the White House. In addition,

Indeed. Meanwhile, since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Indian imports of Russian hydrocarbons have increased considerably, to the point of representing more than $ 57 billion. However, accuses Washington, they only “feed the war machine” of Moscow. Moreover, “I believe that imposing customs duties. In addition, as described here, in addition to the other measures taken to respond to the national emergency, will be more effective in managing this threat,” said Trump. Nevertheless,

For its part. india suspends discussions purchase six Meanwhile, India denounced an “two -weight, two American, even Western weights”, stressing that Chinese Russian oil imports were greater than its own than its own than its [près de 63 milliards en 2024, ndlr] Without it giving rise to the slightest similar sanction against Beijing.

Another grievance of Mr. Trump towards New Delhi relates to the purchase of military equipment from Russia.

Until then. New Delhi has escaped the rigors of the Caatsa law [Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act]which provides for sanctions against any country that would have links with the Russian armament industry. Better still: the United States has continued to strengthen its military cooperation with India. its objective being to counter the influence of China in the Indopacific. Which resulted in several sales of military equipment. including helicopters [CH-47 Chinook, AH-64E Apache, MH-60]drones [MQ-9B SkyGuardian] and maritime patrol planes P-8i Poseidon.

En avril 2021. india suspends discussions purchase six la Defense Security Cooperation Agency [DSCA]in charge of exports of American military equipment as part of the system called “Foreign Military Sales” [FMS] gave India green light for the purchase of additional six p-8i from Boeing, for an amount then estimated at 2.42 billion dollars.

But it may be that the Indian Navy must finally be satisfied with the twelve P-8i Poseidon that. she received. Indeed. according to the Indian press, which is still not finalized, the contractual discussions for the other six devices are now suspended, in response to the first increase of 25 % of customs duties, which came into force on August 7. But that is not the only reason: the price displayed in 2021 increased by 50 %, reaching $ 3.6 billion.

In addition. according to Indian officials, other projects to shop for American military equipment are being reconsidered in the light of the india suspends discussions purchase six significant increase in customs duties. Which. in passing, risks complicating the task of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited [HAL]his Tejas fighting aircraft having an F404 F2J3 reactor provided by General Electric.

That said. according to the Indian Defense Research Wing site [IDRW]discussions on the purchase of the six additional P-8i could resume whether the tensions on the commercial field are subsided or if the acquisition costs are revised downwards.

The fact remains that the Indian Navy believes that it must have at least eighteen maritime patrol planes to monitor a Chinese naval activity [sous-marins et « navires de recherche ». notamment] Always more important in the maritime approaches it is supposed to protect.

Note that the suspension of discussions on the purchase of P-8i occurs a few days after the Indian. government has excluded from obtaining F-35 hunters from Lockheed Martin.