India Halts $7B U.S. Arms Deals Over 50% Tariff Standoff – Geopolitical Chess or Economic Brinkmanship?
New Delhi pulls the plug on F-21 and Apache contracts as trade war escalates
## The 50% Sticking Point
When Washington slapped steel tariffs on Indian exports, nobody expected defense deals to become collateral damage. Yet here we are – $7 billion in Lockheed and Boeing contracts now frozen mid-signature.
## Defense Dollars in Limbo
The paused deals include 114 F-21 fighters (Lockheed's India-specific F-16 variant) and 24 AH-64E Apache helicopters. Both were supposed to counter Chinese J-20s prowling the Himalayas.
## What's Next?
Watch for three moves: 1) Backchannel negotiations through QUAD channels, 2) India accelerating domestic Tejas MK-2 production, or 3) Moscow swooping in with Su-35 'discounts' (because nothing says 'free market' like Russian arms dealers).
Meanwhile, Raytheon shareholders are discovering what crypto traders knew all along – geopolitical risk is the ultimate shitcoin.
The announcements made by President TRUMP to impose 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods have seen India put its plans to buy U.S weapons and aircraft on hold.This marks a significant sign of dis... Read More
