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ISLAMABAD: A planned India&ndash;US trade deal stalled because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not call President Donald Trump, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick claimed on Friday.&nbsp;Lutnick made the remarks in an interview on the All-In podcast, a US business and technology show hosted by four venture capitalists. He said, &ldquo;It&#39;s all set up, and you have got to have Modi call the president,&rdquo; and they were uncomfortable doing it. So Modi didn&#39;t call.&rdquo;&nbsp;Responding to Lutnick&rsquo;s comments, the Indian foreign office said the &ldquo;characterization of these discussions in the reported remarks is not accurate.&rdquo;&nbsp;Bilateral trade talks between Washington and New Delhi had previously collapsed, a situation that worsened when Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods in August last year to 50%, the highest rate in the world. This included a 25% levy in retaliation for Indian purchases of Russian oil.&nbsp;The deadlock contrasted sharply with early optimism, when leaders from both countries had pledged to &ldquo;double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030,&rdquo; according to Indian media reports.&nbsp;Additional friction arose over India&rsquo;s continued imports of Russian oil, prompting the US to impose what it described as &ldquo;punitive&rdquo; tariffs.

India

New Delhi–Washington trade talks falter as tariffs rise to 50%, risking bilateral trade growth and straining agreements aimed at doubling commerce to $500 billion by 2030

US commerce secretary blames Modi call for India trade deal stalemate

BRUSSELS:&nbsp;The European Union &quot;strongly condemns&quot; US sanctions imposed on five European figures involved in regulating tech companies, including former European Commissioner Thierry Breton, the Commission said Wednesday. The US State Department announced Tuesday it would deny visas to Breton and four activists, accusing them of seeking to &quot;coerce&quot; American social media platforms into censoring viewpoints they oppose. &quot;We have requested clarifications from the US authorities and remain engaged. If needed, we will respond swiftly and decisively to defend our regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures,&quot; said a statement from the Commission. &quot;Our digital rules ensure a safe, fair, and level playing field for all companies, applied fairly and without discrimination.&quot; The statement also said: &quot;Freedom of expression is a fundamental right in Europe and a shared core value with the United States across the democratic world. &quot;The EU is an open, rules-based single market, with the sovereign right to regulate economic activity in line with our democratic values and international commitments,&quot; the Commission said. French President Emmanuel Macron denounced US decision to deny visas to five European figures involved in regulating tech companies, saying the move amounted to &quot;intimidation&quot; and &quot;coercion&quot;. &quot;France condemns the visa restriction measures taken by the United States against Thierry Breton and four other European figures,&quot; Macron wrote on X. &quot;These measures amount to intimidation and coercion aimed at undermining European digital sovereignty,&quot; he added, saying Europe would defend its &quot;regulatory autonomy&quot;.

Europe

The European Union strongly condemned the US sanctions imposed on five European figures. French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the US decision, saying the move amounted to intimidation and coercion

EU 'strongly condemns' US sanctions against five Europeans: Commission

ISLAMABAD: The US Congress is expected to approve a $686 million upgrade package for Pakistan&#39;s F-16 fighter fleet, marking a significant step in ongoing defense cooperation between Washington and Islamabad. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the sale on Dec. 8, with Lockheed Martin, a US defense company that manufactures F-16s, selected as the primary contractor.&nbsp; Under US law, major foreign military sales are subject to a 30-day review period by Congress. If no objection is raised during this time, which is usually the case, the sale is considered to have received congressional approval. The comprehensive modernization aims to extend the operational life of Pakistan&#39;s F-16s through 2040 while addressing critical safety and capability gaps. Pakistan currently operates a mixed fleet of F-16 aircraft, including Block 52 and Mid-Life Update variants, which form a crucial component of its air defense and strike capability. The package includes advanced data-link capabilities such as Link-16, which allows aircraft to securely share real-time battlefield information, along with updated cryptographic systems to protect sensitive communications. This NATO-standard technology allows Pakistani pilots to coordinate effectively during complex missions and ensures interoperability with allied forces. The deal also encompasses advanced avionics upgrades, cryptographic equipment for secure communications, improved identification systems, mission planning software, and extensive maintenance support. Training programs for Pakistani technical personnel are also part of the deal, according to the DSCA notification. Washington justified the approval by citing Pakistan&#39;s role in regional counterterrorism operations and the strategic value of maintaining military interoperability. &nbsp;&quot;It will strengthen cooperation in ongoing counterterrorism efforts and help prepare for future contingency operations,&quot; DSCA stated. The State Department emphasized that the upgrades serve broader American foreign policy objectives in South Asia, reinforcing a defense partnership that has endured despite periodic tensions between the two countries.

A Pakistan Air Force F-16 flies over Karachi during a ceremony to commemorate ‘Operation Swift Retort’. (AFP/File)

Security

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a comprehensive modernization package that includes advanced Link-16 communications systems, avionics upgrades, and cryptographic equipment. The deal extends Pakistan's F-16 operational capability through 2040 while strengthening counterterrorism cooperation.

Pakistan’s F-16 fleet to get $686M US upgrade

WASHINGTON:&nbsp;President Donald Trump signed a sweeping defense policy bill into law Thursday that signaled strong bipartisan support for Europe and defied the US leader&#39;s increasingly hostile posture toward NATO and America&#39;s closest allies. The annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), one the few remaining rituals of cross-party cooperation in Congress even as divisions sharpen elsewhere in Washington, sets out the country&#39;s national security and foreign policy priority areas for the coming year, according to lawmakers. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said Trump signed into law a measure which raises pay for US troops, codifies the country&#39;s &quot;PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH agenda,&quot; and &quot;funds the Golden Dome&quot; air and missile defense system backed by Trump. The NDAA, at some $900 billion, also &quot;removes woke priorities&quot; like diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs opposed by many conservatives, and &quot;requires promotions based on merit, not DEI,&quot; Kelly added. The Senate easily passed the NDAA measure on Wednesday following the House&#39;s green light last week. The success comes amid unease in European capitals over Trump&#39;s rhetoric, especially after the recent White House national security strategy painted Europe as over-regulated, culturally adrift and insufficiently committed to its own defense. The strategy questioned the continent&#39;s strategic value and openly echoed themes championed by far-right parties, fueling fears of a widening transatlantic rift. By contrast, the NDAA reflects lawmakers&#39; determination to anchor the United States firmly in Europe. The bill bars US troop levels on the continent from falling below 76,000 for more than 45 days and restricts the removal of major military equipment, effectively tying the administration&#39;s hands on any rapid drawdown. It also boosts resources for frontline NATO states, particularly in the Baltic region, reinforcing the alliance&#39;s northeastern flank. The measure authorizes roughly $8 billion more than the administration requested, a signal of congressional assertiveness on defense priorities. Beyond Europe, the NDAA locks in $400 million in security assistance for Ukraine, aiming to preserve a baseline of support even as broader funding debates grind on, and places new limits on any reduction of the 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea. As ever, the NDAA drew fire from multiple directions -- from conservative critics of Ukraine aid to safety experts warning about aviation provisions rolling back critical air-safety requirements for military aircraft operating in Washington&#39;s restricted airspace. But none came close to derailing a package long seen as must-pass legislation.

Americas

Trump signed a $900 billion bipartisan defense bill boosting troop pay, funding missile defense, limiting NATO drawdowns, supporting Europe and Ukraine, removing DEI programs, and exceeding administration spending requests levels

Trump signs $900B defense policy bill into law

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Thursday he was signing an executive order reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug, in one of America&#39;s biggest shifts in drug policy for years. The move stops short of full federal legalization for recreational use across the United States but is aimed at encouraging medical research on the use of cannabis products. &quot;Today, I&#39;m pleased to announce that I will be signing an executive order to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance with legitimate medical uses,&quot; Trump said in the Oval Office. Marijuana is currently classified as a Schedule I substance -- in the same league as drugs like heroin and LSD. The US government considers these drugs to have high abuse potential without accepted use for medical treatment. Schedule III substances, which include ketamine and anabolic steroids, are considered to have medical value and less potential for abuse. Trump, who was surrounded by white-coated medical experts for the announcement, added that the order &quot;is not the legalization&quot; of marijuana &quot;and no way sanctions its use as a recreational drug.&quot; The teetotal 79-year-old added: &quot;I&#39;ve always told my children, don&#39;t take drugs, no drinking, no smoking, and just stay away from drugs.&quot; Dozens of US states already have legal medical marijuana programs, and many also have approved its recreational use. &quot;A lot of people want to see it, the reclassification, because it leads to tremendous amounts of research that can&#39;t be done unless you reclassify, so we are looking at that very strongly,&quot; Trump said earlier this week. Easing federal restrictions could have ripple effects, including lowering barriers to pursue research, as authorizing clinical studies on Schedule I substances can require many layers of approval. It could also have major tax implications for companies that legally grow and sell cannabis. US presidents cannot unilaterally reclassify a drug but Republican Trump&#39;s order directs Attorney General Pam Bondi to expedite the process. Democrat Joe Biden&#39;s administration had previously pursued reclassification, but efforts stalled and were not completed before Trump took office in early 2025. The US has a patchwork of state-level regulations regarding the commercial distribution, recreational possession and personal cultivation of cannabis. In small amounts it is already legal for recreational use in 24 states as well as the capital Washington.

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to reclassify marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, easing federal restrictions, encouraging medical research, while stopping short of nationwide recreational legalization

Trump signs order reclassifying marijuana as less dangerous

WASHINGTON: US and Russian officials are meeting in Miami this weekend for new talks on President Donald Trump&#39;s plan for ending the Ukraine war, a White House official told AFP Wednesday.&nbsp;The talks come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed progress during two days of meetings in Berlin between Kyiv and Trump&#39;s envoys, while warning that Moscow was preparing for a &quot;new year of war.&quot;&nbsp;Trump&#39;s roving envoy, Steve Witkoff, and son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to take part on the US side, while Putin&#39;s economic envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, is set to be in the Russian delegation, Politico reported.&nbsp;The White House official did not give details of the US and Russian teams.&nbsp;There has been a&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-says-ukraine-deal-close-europe-proposes-peace-force" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">flurry of international diplomacy</a>&nbsp;in recent weeks to end the four-year war, with Witkoff and Kushner having met Putin in the Kremlin in November and the Ukrainians and European leaders in Berlin.&nbsp;But large differences remain all around.&nbsp;Ukraine and the United States say there has been progress on&nbsp;future security&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-offers-natolike-security-to-ukraine-expects-russia-to-accept" target="_blank">guarantees for Kyiv</a>, but they disagree on which&nbsp;territory Ukraine would have to cede.&nbsp;Putin, meanwhile, said on Wednesday that Moscow would &quot;certainly&quot; achieve its objectives in the war, including seizing the territories it claims are its own.

The talks come after Ukrainian president hailed progress during two days of meetings in Berlin between Kyiv and Trump's envoys, while warning that Moscow was preparing for a 'new year of war.'

US, Russia to hold talks on Ukraine in Miami this weekend: White House

ISLAMABAD: United States Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has said that at least 2,000 Afghan refugees who entered America following the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan have links to terrorism or are suspected of involvement in terrorist activities.&nbsp;Gabbard made the remarks during a television interview on Fox &amp; Friends morning show, stating that more than 100,000 Afghan nationals were allowed into the country after what she described as the &ldquo;disastrous withdrawal of the Biden administration,&rdquo; without adequate security screening.&nbsp;&ldquo;The majority of them were not screened in accordance with required standards,&rdquo; Gabbard said.&nbsp;She said the lack of proper vetting posed serious national security concerns, particularly given ongoing threats from extremist groups.&nbsp;Gabbard&rsquo;s comments followed testimony by Joe Kent, director of the US National Counterterrorism Center, who told a hearing of the House Committee on Homeland Security that approximately 18,000 individuals identified as &ldquo;known or suspected terrorists&rdquo; were permitted to enter the United States during the Biden administration.&nbsp;The Director of National Intelligence said the Trump administration is now working closely with the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that individuals suspected of extremist links are located and removed from the country.&nbsp;&ldquo;Those who pose a threat must be identified and deported,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;Gabbard warned that continued activity and planning by Daesh and al-Qaeda heighten the risks associated with such individuals.&nbsp;&ldquo;This represents the greatest short-term and long-term threat to the security of the American people and to democratic values,&rdquo; she said.&nbsp;Her remarks come amid heightened scrutiny of refugee screening processes following the arrest of Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan refugee accused of carrying out an armed attack on two National Guard soldiers in Washington, DC.

Central Asia

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has warned that thousands of Afghan evacuees entered the United States without proper security vetting, saying suspected terrorist links and ongoing extremist activity pose significant national security risks.

US intelligence chief warns Afghan evacuees pose serious security threats

NEW YORK:&nbsp;A gunman killed two people and critically wounded eight others on Saturday afternoon at prestigious Brown University, authorities said, urging people in the area to remain in lockdown as the attacker was still at large.&nbsp;&quot;I can confirm that there are two individuals who have died this afternoon, and there are another eight in critical status, though stable,&quot; Providence, Rhode Island, Mayor Brett Smiley told a news conference.&nbsp;The shooting took place at the Barus and Holley building, home to the engineering and physics departments, on the Ivy League university campus.&nbsp;Multiple exams had been scheduled to take place in the building at the time of the shooting, the university said.&nbsp;Law enforcement described the suspect as a man dressed all in black.&nbsp;&quot;We&#39;re utilizing every resource possible to find this suspect. The shelter in place is still in order and I urge people to take that very seriously. Please do not come to the area,&quot; Deputy Police Chief Timothy O&#39;Hara said.&nbsp;The gunman was last seen leaving the building, and no weapon had been recovered, authorities said.&nbsp;Brown sent an emergency alert at 4:22 pm (2122 GMT) reporting &quot;an active shooter near Barus and Holley Engineering.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;Lock doors, silence phones and stay hidden until further notice,&quot; it said.&nbsp;Law enforcement and first responders swarmed the scene, with local news station WPRI reporting clothing and blood on the sidewalk.&nbsp;The FBI was providing &quot;all capabilities necessary,&quot; Director Kash Patel said on X.&nbsp;Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also responding.&nbsp;Katie Sun told the Brown Daily Herald student newspaper she was studying in a nearby building when she heard gunfire. She ran to her dorm, leaving all her belongings behind.&nbsp;&quot;It was honestly quite terrifying. The shots seemed like they were coming from ... where the classrooms are,&quot; she said.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump had been briefed on the shooting.&nbsp;&quot;What a terrible thing it is,&quot; he said. &quot;All we can do right now is pray for the victims.&quot;&nbsp;Brown University in Providence, near Boston, has about 11,000 students.&nbsp;The shooting is the latest in a long line of school attacks in the US, where attempts to restrict easy access to firearms face political deadlock.

President Donald Trump says he has been briefed on the shooting, confirms the FBI is on scene, and offers prayers for victims families. The gunman was last seen leaving the building, and no weapon had been recovered

2 dead, 8 critical in shooting at US Ivy League school

BRUSSELS: European Union countries and lawmakers reached a final deal Wednesday on an ambitious target for cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, allowing carbon credits bought outside the continent to help reach the goal. A number of countries, led by Italy, had expressed concern at the target of reducing the 27-nation bloc&rsquo;s emissions by 90% from 1990 levels by 2040.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1998540028562280579&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=a56c84d1349c2ce33f4f9df3bd5228288bc9bdcc&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 898px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The final deal allows for five percent of cuts to be accounted for through carbon credits acquired for projects outside Europe.&nbsp; &lsquo;Sending campaign offshore&rsquo;Activist groups have accused the EU of simply sending the climate change campaign offshore. Further down the road, the EU could if needed eventually allow member states to make up a further five percent of their targets via credits from international carbon markets. Under pressure from Poland and Hungary, the deal also put back by one year to 2028 an emissions trading system for road transport and heating buildings. Most committed&nbsp;Behind only China, the United States and India in terms of emissions, the EU has been the most committed of the major polluters to climate action and has already cut emissions by 37% compared to 1990 levels. The deal still has to be given formal approval by the 27 EU states and by the EU parliament.

Behind only China, the US and India in terms of emissions, the EU has been the most committed of the major polluters to climate action and has already cut emissions by 37% compared to 1990 levels.

EU agrees deal for 90% emissions cut by 2040

MUMBAI:&nbsp;US and Indian trade negotiators begin two days of talks Wednesday as they try to reach a deal amid geopolitical turbulence after Washington hit New Delhi with huge tariffs over its purchases of Russian oil. The 50% levies on most goods was imposed in August, with US officials arguing the imports of discounted Russian crude effectively bankroll Moscow&#39;s war in Ukraine. Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer&rsquo;s visit comes a week after Prime Minister Narendra Modi embraced Russian President Vladimir Putin in New Delhi. India&rsquo;s foreign ministry described Switzer&#39;s meetings as a &ldquo;familiarization&rdquo; trip. India was among the first countries to begin trade talks after President Donald Trump unveiled sweeping tariffs on most US trade partners in April. But it is one of the few major economies still without an agreement, raising risks for jobs, economic growth and markets. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">A serious blow&nbsp;</h2>India is the world&rsquo;s fastest-growing major economy and recorded a $45.8 billion goods trade deficit with the United States in 2024. Large export categories such as smartphones and generic drugs are exempt from Trump&#39;s tariffs, but many labor-intensive industries are not. That&rsquo;s a serious blow for a country already struggling to generate well-paid jobs for millions of young graduates, and the turmoil threatens Modi&#39;s ambition to lift the country into high-income status. Fall in exports&nbsp;Exports fell nearly 12% year-on-year in October, driven by a plunge in US-bound shipments. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) estimates that labour-heavy sectors -- gems and jewelery, textiles and seafood -- saw export drops of 37&ndash;60% between May and September. Foreign investors have dumped more than $16 billion in Indian equities this year, helping push the rupee to a record low past 90 per dollar. Cut in growth forecast&nbsp;The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has also cut India&rsquo;s 2026-27 growth forecast from 6.4% to 6.2%, assuming &ldquo;prolonged 50% US tariffs&rdquo;. Exports could shrink to about $49.6 billion this fiscal year, from $86.5 billion last year, potentially knocking up to 80 basis points off growth, according to the GTRI. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Severe sanctions &nbsp;&nbsp;</h2>India enthusiastically bought discounted Russian crude after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine as Moscow was hammered with severe sanctions including on its sale of oil. But Trump&#39;s decision to link trade policy to geopolitics upended US-India relations in August, with roughly half of the tariff burden stemming from Washington&#39;s attempt to penalize those purchases. No comment&nbsp;The US president has repeatedly claimed India either plans to stop, or has already mostly stopped, buying Russian oil -- a claim&nbsp;New Delhi has neither confirmed nor denied. But when in the Indian capital, Putin offered to &ldquo;continue uninterrupted shipments of fuel&rdquo;.&nbsp; Modi did not comment directly on oil flows. &lsquo;Notable dip&rsquo;However, top buyer Reliance Industries said in November it stopped importing Russian oil for its export-focused refinery, while smaller refiners like HPCL-Mittal Energy have said they have stopped entirely. Analysts at trade intelligence platform Kpler expect a &ldquo;notable dip&rdquo; in India&#39;s December&ndash;January imports. Whether that decline will sway Washington is unclear. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Rice &lsquo;dumping&rsquo;&nbsp;</h2>Talks also stalled over agriculture, with India resisting pressure to cut tariffs on staples like rice and wheat -- wary of angering its farmers, a politically powerful constituency. A senior Indian commerce ministry official told AFP that these issues are &ldquo;largely resolved&rdquo;, although Trump on Monday also criticized the country for &ldquo;dumping&rdquo; rice into the United States. Negotiating a trade pact is complicated by the need to address Trump&rsquo;s so-called reciprocal tariffs, though both tracks are linked, officials say. &ldquo;These are two separate, parallel negotiations that are going on, but one will feed into another,&rdquo; Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal told an industry event last week. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Is a breakthrough likely?</h2>Relations have improved since August, with several smaller deals advancing. That includes US approval in November for two arms sales worth nearly $93 million, and New Delhi&#39;s &ldquo;significant&rdquo; deal for the United States to supply nearly 10% of its liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) imports. Energy commitments have anchored past US trade deals, and experts say the LPG contract may help convince Washington that India is reducing its reliance on Russia.

Business

The 50% levies on most goods was imposed in August, with US officials arguing Indian imports of discounted Russian crude effectively bankroll Moscow's war in Ukraine; India’s foreign ministry described Switzer's meetings as a “familiarization” trip.

US, India start fresh trade talks seeking elusive deal

NEW DELHI: Russia and India call each other &ldquo;time-tested&rdquo; friends with ties dating back to the Soviet era, but their relationship has come under significant pressure since Moscow&#39;s invasion of Ukraine. US President Donald Trump has pressured India to curb purchases of Russian oil -- arguing it is fuelling Moscow&rsquo;s war -- and has imposed steep 50% tariffs on New Delhi. The relationship comes under further scrutiny as&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/putin-to-visit-india-december-45-kremlin" style="color:#0073e6;">Russian President Vladimir Putin visits New Delhi</a>on Thursday, his first trip to India since December 2021.&nbsp; He last met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September in China. Here are five key areas of cooperation and tension: <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Oil and energy&nbsp;</h2>India emerged as a major buyer of Russian oil after the start of the Ukraine war, providing Moscow with a crucial export market as Europe sharply reduced purchases. In 2024, Russia supplied nearly 36% of India&rsquo;s total crude imports, around 1.8 million barrels of discounted oil per day. That saved India billions of dollars while also bolstering Moscow&rsquo;s war coffers, straining New Delhi&rsquo;s ties with Western partners, and prompting Trump to hike tariffs. Trump has claimed that Modi has agreed to cut its Russian oil imports as part of a prospective US trade deal, something New Delhi has not confirmed. But trade data suggests purchases have started to decline. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Defense&nbsp;</h2>Russia remains one of India&rsquo;s largest arms suppliers, though New Delhi has moved to reduce its dependence by increasing purchases from the United States, France and Israel. At the same time, India has boosted domestic production. As a result, Russia&rsquo;s share of India&rsquo;s arms imports fell from 76% in 2009&ndash;13 to 36% in 2019&ndash;23, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). A possible deal for Russia&#39;s advanced S-400 air defense systems is expected to be discussed, as well as proposals for co-production with India of Russia&rsquo;s Su-57 fighter jets. India currently has three S-400 units, with delivery of two more stalled by Western sanctions. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Trade&nbsp;</h2>Russia is India&rsquo;s fourth-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade hitting a record $68.7 billion in 2024&ndash;25, according to official data. But it is far from an equal relationship: over 90% of that came from Indian imports from Russia, amounting to $63.8 billion, mainly fuels and oil.India mainly exports nuclear reactors and machinery and some pharmaceuticals. Analysts suggest a substantial volume of unofficial trade -- possibly 15&ndash;25% above reported figures -- &nbsp;moves through shadow shipping networks.Some allege that involves strategic electronics and dual-use items to circumvent Western sanctions. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Ukraine war&nbsp;</h2>India has walked a tightrope to avoid condemning Russia&rsquo;s war in Ukraine, while maintaining ties with Western nations. When Modi and Putin met in 2022 in Uzbekistan, Modi said he wanted the war to end &ldquo;as soon as possible&rdquo;. Allegations that Indian citizens were duped into fighting for Russia have added to frictions. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">&lsquo;Non-alignment&rsquo;</h2>India&rsquo;s long-standing policy of &ldquo;non-alignment&rdquo; continues to guide its approach, preserving a historical partnership with Russia while expanding ties with the United States and Europe. Washington has regarded India as a critical partner, especially in balancing China&rsquo;s power. But Modi has repeatedly emphasized a &ldquo;multipolar&rdquo; world order and resisted calls to distance India from Moscow. &ldquo;India seeks to maintain its longstanding relationship with Russia, which is vital not only for managing its challenging relations with China but also for its strategic autonomy -- the core principle of its foreign policy,&rdquo; said Praveen Donthi from the International Crisis Group.

US President Donald Trump has pressured India to curb purchases of Russian oil -- arguing it is fuelling Moscow’s war -- and has imposed steep 50% tariffs on New Delhi.

Articles tagged with "US"

US commerce secretary blames Modi call for India trade deal stalemate

EU 'strongly condemns' US sanctions against five Europeans: Commission

Pakistan’s F-16 fleet to get $686M US upgrade

Trump signs $900B defense policy bill into law

Trump signs order reclassifying marijuana as less dangerous

US, Russia to hold talks on Ukraine in Miami this weekend: White House

US intelligence chief warns Afghan evacuees pose serious security threats

2 dead, 8 critical in shooting at US Ivy League school

EU agrees deal for 90% emissions cut by 2040

US, India start fresh trade talks seeking elusive deal

US commerce secretary blames Modi call for India trade deal stalemate