Washington: The US State Department has given the green light for the potential sale of a Javelin anti-tank missile system and Excalibur guided artillery munitions to India, a deal valued at $92.8 million. This announcement was made by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency, marking a significant step in defense cooperation between the two nations.

According to Anadolu Agency, India had put forth a request for 100 FGM-148 Javelin rounds, a fly-to-buy missile, and 25 Command Launch Units, totaling $45.7 million. In a separate notification, the State Department also approved India's request for up to 216 M982A1 Excalibur tactical projectiles and associated support equipment, estimated at $47.1 million. The deal includes US government technical assistance, repair services, and access to pertinent technical data.

This proposed sale is intended to bolster the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by enhancing the US-Indian strategic relationship. It aims to improve the security of a key defense partner, which is considered a vital force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions. However, the agency has stated that the sale will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The announcement comes at a time of strained relations between the US and India, following the imposition of 50% tariffs on Indian goods by the Trump administration, partly due to India's procurement of Russian oil amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Recently, India signed a historic agreement to import 2.2 million tons of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) annually from the US. Additionally, last month, the two countries entered into a 10-year defense framework agreement.