New Delhi, August 8, 2025 — The Ministry of Defence on Friday firmly denied reports suggesting India had paused its defence procurements from the United States, calling them “misleading and baseless.”
In an official statement, the ministry said all ongoing and planned acquisitions under the India–U.S. defence cooperation framework are progressing on schedule, with no orders delayed or cancelled.
Speculation about a freeze in purchases surfaced amid recent U.S.–India trade tensions over New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian oil. However, senior defence officials stressed that procurement decisions are driven by operational requirements and long-term strategy, not by short-term political disputes.
Key projects — including MQ-9B armed drones, GE-414 jet engines, and joint technology development — remain unaffected, with timelines proceeding as planned.
India and the U.S. have significantly expanded their defence partnership in recent years, covering advanced weapon systems, joint exercises, and secure communication agreements. The ministry reiterated that the relationship remains “strong and uninterrupted,” ahead of the upcoming Defence Policy Group meeting later this month.