India-US Finalised Defence Deals Worth USD 3 Billion: Trump

Defence deals worth USD 3 billion, three MoUs, including one in energy sector were finalised between India and USA.

US President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House, Tuesday, 25 February.

(Photo: AP)

India and the US on Tuesday, 25 February, finalised defence deals worth USD 3 billion, and signed three MoUs, including one in energy sector, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the two countries have decided to take Indo-US ties to comprehensive global partnership level.

“The unprecedented and historic welcome given to Trump in India will be remembered,” said Modi at a joint press meet with Trump and added that the relations between the two countries are not merely confined to governments but are people-driven.

Trump announced that the two countries have finalised defence deals worth USD 3 billion and asserted that their focus was on having a comprehensive trade deal.

“Our teams have made tremendous progress for a comprehensive trade agreement & I'm optimistic we can reach a deal of great importance to both countries. Since I took office, US exports to India are up nearly 60% & exports of high quality American energy have grown by 500 percent,” Trump added.

US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi sit for a meeting at Hyderabad House, Tuesday, 25 February.

In his brief remarks at the start of official talks, Modi said, "Defence cooperation between two countries is reflective of rising strategic partnership between India and US. We also agreed on new mechanism to contain drug trafficking" the Prime Minister said.

Modi welcomed the US president and thanked him for taking time out for the visit to India.

President Trump, in turn, said the last two days in India were amazing, especially the event at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad.

“It was a great honour for me. I would imagine they (the people) were there maybe more for you than for me... 125,000 people were inside. Every time I mentioned your name, there were cheers. People love you,”

Donald Trump, President of The United States

Earlier, Trump was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Modi welcomed Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The US president also received a tri-services guard of honour at the presidential palace.

The Trumps, who also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial Rajghat, arrived in Ahmedabad around noon on Monday for the first leg of their 36-hour India visit.