Recent remarks by Peter Navarro, a senior advisor to US President Donald Trump, on August 18, 2025, have sparked concerns in India over the potential disruption of the F-414 engine technology transfer agreement between General Electric and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, originally outlined in a 2023 memorandum of understanding. Navarro criticized India’s pursuit of sensitive military technology amid its ongoing relations with Russia and China, warning that such demands could lead to the US blocking key defense deals, including the F-414 engines vital for the Tejas MkII program, as well as Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stryker combat vehicles. The F-414 deal, valued at around $1 billion with an 80% technology transfer, has faced delays due to negotiations on scope and pricing, with HAL aiming to finalize it by March 2026 despite recent US tariffs imposed in July 2025 on certain Indian imports. This development highlights tensions in US-India defense cooperation, exacerbated by India’s 40-45% reliance on Russian crude oil and arms imports, prompting speculation about India’s need to diversify partnerships to advance its self-reliance goals.