Despite ongoing tariff disputes between India and the United States, the two nations continue to engage in joint military exercises, highlighting their commitment to maritime cooperation. On Monday, the Indian guided-missile destroyer INS Imphal participated in an exercise with the USS Gridley, a US Arleigh-Burke class destroyer, in the Arabian Sea.
The exercise included tactical maneuvers, cross-deck flying, anti-piracy VBSS (visit, board, search and seizure) training, and the sharing of best practices and procedures to enhance interoperability. Navy spokesperson Captain Vivek Madhwal stated on Tuesday that this underscores the efforts to strengthen maritime cooperation between the two countries.
This recent naval exercise follows the 'Yudh Abhyas' exercise held at Fort Wainwright in Alaska from September 1 to 14, where over 450 Indian soldiers participated in high-altitude combat drills with their US counterparts. Furthermore, India, the US, Australia, and Japan are planning to conduct the major Malabar naval exercise off Guam in the Western Pacific in November. The Malabar exercise, which began as a bilateral India-US exercise in 1992, now includes all "Quad" countries, with China's activities in the Indo-Pacific region being a key area of focus.
The joint exercises and military cooperation occur amidst escalating trade tensions between India and the US. Recent reports indicate that New Delhi has put on hold plans to procure new US weapons and aircraft after fresh tariffs were imposed on India. This pause in procurement followed President Trump's imposition of an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods in response to Delhi's purchases of Russian oil. The tariff increase brought the total duties on Indian exports to 50%, making them among the highest of any US trading partner.
Despite the procurement pause, broader defense partnerships, including intelligence sharing and joint exercises, are reportedly continuing smoothly. India has also expressed openness to reducing oil imports from Russia and making purchases elsewhere, including from the US, if prices are competitive.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York amidst these escalating trade tensions. The US has imposed significant tariffs on India, including a 25% charge for Russian oil purchases, and has remained silent on the Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense treaty. Moreover, a new, significantly increased H-1B visa fee has taken effect, raising concerns about its impact on startups, small businesses, and Indian IT professionals.
According to a former foreign secretary, Donald Trump may be more interested in military alliances in the Indo-Pacific, and India might not fit into his agenda. He suggested that a trade deal could alleviate some of the pressure on New Delhi.
