India on Wednesday carried out a test launch of its Agni-5 intermediate-range ballistic missile, a weapon capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, in what analysts see as a calculated display of military strength ahead of looming U.S. trade sanctions.
According to the Indian defence ministry, the missile was launched from the eastern state of Odisha and “met all operational and technical requirements” during the test.
The development comes just days before U.S. tariffs on Indian goods are set to double from 25% to 50%, unless New Delhi complies with Washington’s demand to halt purchases of Russian oil.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly emphasized the need for energy self-reliance and indigenous defence capability, particularly in the wake of tariff threats from Washington.
India has in recent years expanded its defence partnerships with Western powers, particularly through the Quad grouping with the United States, Japan, and Australia — a bloc widely seen as counterbalancing China.
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However, ties between New Delhi and Beijing have recently shown signs of thawing, with high-level exchanges taking place and Modi expected to visit Tianjin later this month — his first visit to China since 2018.
The Agni missile programme, launched in 1983 and named after the Sanskrit word for “fire,” remains a cornerstone of India’s strategic arsenal.