US Urges India to Seal Major Armed Drone Deal Ahead of PM Modi’s Visit

News Snapshot:

Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington, the Biden administration is pushing New Delhi to cut through its own red tape and advance a deal for dozens of U.S.-made armed drones, two people familiar with the matter said. India has long expressed interest in buying large armed drones from the United States. But bureaucratic stumbling blocks have hampered a hoped-for deal for SeaGuardian drones that could be worth $2 billion to $3 billion for years. U.S. negotiators are counting on Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s White House visit on June 22 to break the log jam....