Mr. Trump decided to step up arms sales to India, including F-35 fighters.

Today (February 14th, Vietnam time), at a press conference at the White House with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump announced that Washington will step up arms sales to New Delhi, including the advanced F-35 fighter jet.

US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a press conference at the White House on February 14 (Vietnam time).

"We will increase military sales to India by several billion dollars. We are also paving the way for the supply of F-35 stealth fighters to India," Reuters quoted US President Donald Trump as saying on February 14.

The White House did not provide a specific timeframe, but arms sales to foreign countries typically take years to complete, especially for advanced fighter jets like the F-35.

At the press conference, President Trump also announced that the two countries had reached a trade agreement in which India would increase its imports of US oil and gas to narrow the trade deficit between the two countries.

According to Trump, Washington and New Delhi will also cooperate in efforts to respond to what he called "the threat from radical Islamic terrorism."

Lockheed Martin, the military contractor that manufactures the F-35 fighter jet, has not commented on plans to sell the fifth-generation fighter to India.

The sale of military weapons to foreign countries, such as F-35 fighter jets, is classified as a government- to-government agreement, in which the Pentagon acts as an intermediary between the defense contractor and the foreign government.

Since 2008, India has purchased over $20 billion worth of US military products. Last year, after more than six years of consideration and evaluation, India agreed to purchase 31 MQ-9B SeaGuardian and SkyGuardian drones from its US partner.

According to the US Congressional Research Service, New Delhi plans to spend more than $200 billion over the next decade on military modernization.

Meanwhile, Russia has been India's main arms supplier for decades, including fighter jets. However, the conflict in Ukraine has threatened its military export capabilities, forcing New Delhi to seek supplies from the West.

On February 11th, there were reports that Russia had offered to sell the fifth-generation Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet to the Indian Air Force.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ong-trump-quyet-dinh-day-manh-ban-vu-khi-cho-an-do-bao-gom-tiem-kich-f-35-185250214075925451.htm