The US Commerce Secretary has called on India to stop importing defense equipment from Russia, emphasizing the need for both countries to strengthen their relationship by moving away from this longstanding trade practice.
Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that India’s significant military purchases from Russia must end for the benefit of their bilateral ties.
For decades, Russia has been one of India’s top suppliers of military hardware, but Lutnick stressed that as the US and India look to build stronger relations, this reliance on Russia must be reconsidered.
Additionally, Lutnick voiced concerns over the efforts of BRICS nations, including India, to develop a currency alternative to the US dollar.
He warned that such moves could harm the positive relations the US hopes to maintain with India and argued that trade should be conducted more fairly.
On the trade front, President Donald Trump announced that India had agreed to reduce tariffs on US goods, a major step toward a more balanced trade agreement between the two countries.
Trump remarked, “India has agreed to cut massive tariffs, which is a huge win for US businesses.”
