NEW DELHI: Donald Trump's victory as the 45th US President will not affect India's military relations with the US, but has defense experts in the national capital believe they must wait for Trump's policy on multilateral engagement.
Naval sources have voiced apprehensions over multilateral naval exercises between the US, India, and Japan.
However, military experts believe that Trump's staunch stance on terrorism could deepen Indo-US defense and strategic ties after Trump expressed concern over Pakistan's nuclear arsenal and its support to harbor terrorism on its soil.
Moreover, military analysts say ties between US and Russia are expected to flourish, a good sign for India which has a strong defense and strategic relations with Russia.
The Ministry of defense last year spent nearly 84,000 crores to import defense items from American companies including C-130J super Hercules, P8I maritime reconnaissance aircraft, Harpoon anti-submarine missiles and the C-17 Heavy lift transport aircraft. India has been trying to procure 22 Apache attack helicopters along with 15 heavy-lift Chinook helicopters for the Indian Air Force.
Alexander Gray, a senior military adviser and author of several of the ambitious defense policies of Donald Trump told a news agency that "Trump Administration would attempt to strengthen the defense side where it shares so much common ground with India. At a time when India’s foreign policy is changing because of China and Pakistan, because of Islamic terrorism, we need to be there to greet them with open arms. I think, the Trump Administration is ready to do that,” giving an insight into a possible Indian possibility under Trump's administration.