Under Donald Trump, the United States views India as a “critical partner" in the Indo-Pacific. India is especially important to the US for keeping China in check. So, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump addressed a joint press conference following their comprehensive bilateral meeting in the White House, it was not surprising to note the focus laid on defence partnerships. Donald Trump went as far as saying that Washington will eventually provide India with F-35 stealth fighter jets. To that end, the India-US joint statement reveals that Washington will review its policy of releasing fifth-generation fighter jets in order to facilitate F-35 sales to India.

Almost immediately, Lockheed Martin, which manufactures the stealth fighter jets, welcomed the announcement, saying, “We are encouraged by the recent announcement by President Trump to provide the F-35 to India. We look forward to working closely with both governments on upcoming strategic procurements, including the fighters…"

For weeks now, there has been a buzz about Donald Trump offering the F-35s to India. Now that the offer is in, it becomes necessary to reflect on the importance of this moment. Remember, the F-35s are reserved for America’s most trusted allies. For Trump to offer India these fighter jets marks a pivotal moment in the US-India bilateral relationship, which, if taken to its logical conclusion, could radically transform the security landscape of Asia. If India accepts Trump’s offer, it would become the first non-NATO and non-Pacific country to get the........

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