Trump announces 3 billion dollar defence deal with India

Feb 24, 2020

Ahmedabad: US President Donald Trump on Monday announced that his country would sign a $3 billion defence deal with India on Tuesday.

”I’m pleased to announce that tomorrow our representatives will sign deals to sell over $3 billion, in the absolute finest state of the art military helicopters and other equipment to the Indian armed forces,” Trump said while addressing the ‘Namaste Trump’ event at Motera stadium here.

Earlier he along with wife Milania Trump arrived here on a historic two-day visit to India heading a very high-level delegation.

Trump emphasised said the US would become India’s premier defence partner. “As we continue to build our defence cooperation, the US looks forward to providing India with some of the best and most feared military equipment on the planet. We make the greatest weapons ever made. We make the best and we are dealing now with India,” he added.

He said India’s rise as a prosperous and independent nation is an example to every nation all over the world; ”it’s all the more inspiring as you have done it as a democratic, peaceful & tolerant Country.”

”Our two national constitutions both begin with the same three beautiful words: “We the people.” That means that in America and India alike, we honor, respect, trust, empower, and fight for the citizens we proudly serve,” the US President said.

Coming to the terror issue, Trump said his administration is working with Islamabad to crack down on terror groups operating from that country’s borders. He said that there are “signs of big progress” on cross-border terrorism. “My administration is working in a very positive way with Pakistan to crack down on the terrorists and militant groups that operate on the Pakistan border,” he said, adding, “We are beginning to see signs of big progress.”

Trump said India will hold a special place in our hearts. “America loves, America respects and America will be faithful and loyal friends to the Indian people,” he said.

The US President praised PM Modi and listed achievements of his government.

He also spoke of Bollywood and made special reference to Shah Rukh Khan’s Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (DDLJ) and Amitabh Bachchan’s Sholay in his speech. “This is the country that produces 2000 movies a year from the hub of genius and creativity known as Bollywood. All over the planet, people take great joy in scenes of bhangra, music, dance, romance and drama, and classic Indian films like DDLJ and Sholay,” Trump said.

Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his speech said that India and the US can contribute to peace progress and security in the whole world, not just in the Ind0-Pacific.

” That’s why I believe that the visit of President Trump in the beginning of this decade is a great opportunity, and the relations and cooperation between India and the US would play a major role in determining the direction the 21rst century world takes,” the Prime Minister said.

”The US and India are natural partners,” he added.

After the Namste Trump event, the US President left for Agra to visit the Taj Mahal.
–India News Stream