Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to the United States has been widely celebrated by Indian media as a triumph for India. However, a closer examination reveals a different story ” one that is not deserving of the praise being heaped upon it. The focal point of this visit, the much-discussed offer of F-35 stealth fighter jets from the US, appears to be a well-crafted sales pitch. As a result, India could find itself maintaining overpriced jets with no technological benefits. On the oil front, the deal struck with the US compels India to increase its purchase of American oil, sidelining imports from key suppliers such as Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait. The country loses its trading flexibility and becomes more reliant on the US, while the US secures a guaranteed market for its oil. Regarding tariffs, President Trump has imposed reciprocal tariffs on India, a move that will harm Indian exports and raise the cost of American goods. These tariffs were announced before Modi's meeting with Trump, highlighting the one-sided nature of the deal. India, which had enjoyed a trade surplus, now faces higher export costs, favouring one side and penalizing the other.
