Insta
Despite Trade War, India Looks To Buy 1,000 Aircraft And More Oil From The United States
Flags of the United States and India (Manpreet Romana/AFP via Getty Images)
While most countries across the globe, including India are engaged in a trade war with the United States, the former has decided to show a small white flag by offering to buy around 1,000 civilian aircraft as well as more oil and natural gas from the western nation.
The offer was conveyed by Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Suresh Prabhu to United States Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross last week, reports The Times of India. US trade representative Mark Linscott will arrive in India tomorrow (24 June) to begin discussions with Indian officials. India is defending its sanctions against the United States as a World Trade Organisation (WTO) sanctioned right that was brought into effect after the latter imposed steep tariffs on the import of steel and aluminium.
India hopes to resolve some of the pending issues prior to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s meeting with their American counterparts Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense James Mattis in Washington DC on 6 July.
Estimates suggest that India would be paying $4 billion a year for oil and natural gas and $5 billion a year for the aircraft which does not include existing purchase agreements. India is currently looking to purchase 12 more Boeing P8i Poseidon naval surveillance aircraft for the Indian Navy. The Indian Navy is currently the largest owner of the P8i outside of the United States.
Following a Logistics Exchange agreement signed last year, both countries are now working on their next agreement – the communications compatibility and security agreement.
As part of the trip Stateside, Sitharaman is also due to visit the recently renamed Indo-Pacific Naval Command in Hawaii.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
