According to two informed sources speaking to Reuters, the Biden administration counts on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming official visit to Washington to encourage New Delhi to reduce its bureaucratic procedures and move forward with a deal for dozens of U.S.-made armed drones.
U.S. negotiators are relying on Modi's visit to the White House on June 22 to help resolve the matter. The sources noted that Modi and Biden are also expected to discuss joint production of munitions and vehicles such as armored personnel carriers during the visit.
India has long expressed interest in purchasing large armed drones from the United States. However, bureaucratic hurdles have hindered a deal for the "Sea Guardian" drones, which could range in value from $2 billion to $3 billion for years.
Biden has made deepening relations with India a cornerstone of his policy to counter increasing Chinese influence, paying particular attention this year to cooperation between the world's two largest democracies on advanced military technologies, despite the absence of a formal security alliance.
