India paused its $3.6b plan to acquire six more P-8I Poseidon aircraft after the United States imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian exports—a move triggered by India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. This sudden tariff, announced by President Trump, pushed the cost of the maritime patrol aircraft up by nearly 50%, forcing India’s Ministry of Defence to reassess the strategic and fiscal viability of the deal. The Indian Navy, which operates 12 P-8Is, remains concerned about maintaining maritime vigilance as Chinese naval activity intensifies in the Indian Ocean. While the purchase is not scrapped, Indian officials signal a renewed emphasis on indigenous alternatives and defense self-reliance should costs remain prohibitively high, with future negotiations dependent on tariff adjustments.