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Donald Trump offered to sell New Delhi the stealth fighters in February, according to the news agency
India told the US in February that it is “not keen” on buying F-35 stealth fighter jets, Bloomberg reported on Thursday, citing officials familiar with the matter.
US President Donald Trump had offered to sell the aircraft to New Delhi when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the White House in February, according to the report. India is keener on a partnership that focuses on joint design and manufacturing, it added.
The Indian Foreign Ministry, however, has downplayed the report by the news agency.
“The India-US joint statement following the meeting of the prime minister with the US president on 13 February 2025 mentions that the US will undertake a review of its policy on releasing fifth-generation fighters (such as the F-35) and undersea systems to India,” the minister of state for foreign affairs said in the lower house of parliament on Friday. “No formal discussions have been held as yet on this issue.”
The sale of fighter aircraft to India would reduce a $41.18 billion trade deficit that the US has with the South Asian nation.
This week, the US imposed 25% tariffs on imports from India, as the two countries were unable to conclude a trade deal by an August 1 deadline.
On Wednesday, Trump said in a post on Truth Social that India would pay an undisclosed penalty in addition to the tariffs for its trade and defense purchases from Russia.
During Modi’s visit to Washington in February, Trump said the US would like to increase weapons sales to India and would eventually offer its latest fighter jets. “We’ll be increasing military sales to India by many billions of dollars,” the US president told reporters. “We’re also paving the way to ultimately provide India with the F-35 stealth fighters.”
In his April visit to India, US Vice President J.D. Vance said the F-35 could bolster the Indian Air Force's defense capabilities.
The statement came days after the F-35 and Russia's Su-57 were showcased at the Aero India air show in Bangalore.
Defense analysts say the Su-57 has clear advantages over its American rival, including lower cost and tech transfer opportunities, making it appealing to the Indian Air Force, which has long relied on Russian systems.
