US Urges India to Finalize Major Armed Drone Purchase Ahead of Modi's Visit

The US is urging India to finalize a deal for dozens of armed drones worth $2-3 billion ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington on June 22. The US is counting on Modi's visit to break the bureaucratic logjam that has hampered the deal for years. The US has asked India to show progress on the deal for MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones made by General Atomics. The US President Joe Biden has made deepening ties with India a cornerstone of his policy to counter China's growing influence.