The green light from the administration marks a further deepening in defense ties as India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets with President Donald Trump at the White House on Monday. David McKeeby, spokesman for the State Department bureau of political-military affairs, said it does not comment on proposed defense sales before Congress is formally notified. The South Asian nation, which has traditionally bought most of its defense equipment from Russia, is looking to upgrade its capabilities. Since 2008, India has signed more than $15 billion in U.S.