The US is preparing a military aid package for India to deepen security ties and reduce the country’s dependence on Russian weapons, people familiar with the matter said.
The package under consideration would include foreign military financing of as much as $500 million, according to one person, which would make India one of the largest recipients of such aid behind Israel and Egypt. It’s unclear when the deal would be announced, or what weapons would be included.

The effort is part of a much larger initiative by President Joe Biden’s administration to court India as a long-term security partner, despite its reluctance to criticize Russia for its invasion of Ukraine, according to a senior US official who asked not to be named.
Washington wants to be seen as a reliable partner for India across the board, the official added, and the administration is working with other nations including France to make sure Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has the equipment it needs. While India is already diversifying its military platforms away from Russia, the US wants to help make that happen faster, the official said.

The major challenge remains how to provide India major platforms like fighter jets, naval ships and battle tanks, the official said, adding that the administration is looking for a breakthrough in one of these areas. The financing package being discussed would do little to make those types of systems -- which can cost billions or tens of billions of dollars -- more affordable, but it would be a significant symbolic sign of support.

India is the world’s largest buyer of Russian weapons, although it has scaled back that relationship of late. Over the past decade, India has bought more than $4 billion worth of military equipment from the US and more than $25 billion from Russia, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, which collects data on arms transfers.

India’s dependence on Russia for weapons against neighbors China and Pakistan is a big reason Modi’s government has avoided criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine. As the US, Europe, Australia and Japan piled economic sanctions on Russia, India has held off and instead continued imports of discounted Russian oil.

While the US and its allies were initially frustrated with India, they have sought to woo Modi’s government as a key security partner -- including against China in the Indo-Pacific region. Modi is set to join a summit with Biden next week in South Korea. The meeting will include leaders from the Quad, a partnership between the U.S., India, Japan and Australia that has drawn criticism from China. Modi also received an invitation to join the Group of Seven leaders in Germany next month.

Source: Bloomberg.
Lalasticlala, myndd44

Lalasticlala, myndd44

Who knew a day would come america would have to service a nation in other to feel good!! Wahala

Beggy Beggy....
I keep saying it, we are the ones making US economy stronger,the whole world is trading with one currency(dollar), now imagine if every country decide to dump dollars....

Indin govt at the moment..

So, USA can later used that against India.
USA have been trying for years to use India against China but the Indians knew that.

This are the mates of Nigeria ,playing in big leagues

U spoke my mind. While buhari and Nigeria Gov't is playing nuteral and humble for all sides. India took a ballsy move towards Russia loyalty which threatened US bilateral move. See them giving subtle military bribe to India just to woo them over. All those talks of Nigeria human rights abuses are just eye service and bullying because they know the Nigeria govt is politically and mentally weak. See packages wey India wan collect because it aligned with Russia

olas24u:
This are the mates of Nigeria ,playing in big leagues

seunny4lif:
So, USA can later used that against India.
USA have been trying for years to use India against China but the Indians knew that.

How? The U.S wants to use this opportunity to attract India from Russia and form stronger ties with it. China are already in a fight with India, how is the U.S trying to use India against China? The tension between India and China, India and Parkistan will drive India to get close to the U.S.