US and India to review arms export rules in major defence pact

The United States will review its arms transfer rules, including International Traffic in Arms Regulations (‘ITAR’), ‘in order to streamline defence trade’ with India, according to a joint statement following talks in Washington between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

In their 13 February statement, the two ‘pledged to accelerate defense technology cooperation across space, air defence, missile, maritime and undersea technologies, with the U.S. announcing a review of its policy on releasing fifth generation fighters and undersea systems to India,’ according to the Indian foreign ministry’s website.

‘Recognizing that India is a Major Defence Partner with Strategic Trade Authorization-1 (STA-1) authorization and a key Quad partner, the US and India will review their respective arms transfer regulations, including International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR),’ the statement said.

Trump and Modi also announced plans to pursue new procurements and co-production arrangements for Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stryker combat vehicles in India, along with six additional P-8 maritime patrol aircraft. Trump has announced plans to sell advanced F-35 fighter jets to India, whose forces have until now relied largely on weapon supplies from Russia.

The new agreements come under a new ‘US-India COMPACT’ initiative focused on military partnership and technology cooperation, which also calls for ‘a Reciprocal Defense Procurement (RDP) agreement to better align their procurement systems and enable the reciprocal supply of defense goods and services.’

https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/39066https://www.aninews.in/news/world/us/india-us-to-sign-10-year-framework-for-major-defence-partnership-review-arms-transfer-regulations20250214111732/