R Krishna Das
The United States has expressed its reluctance over considering sanctions for India’s purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile defence systems under Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
The development comes as a big blow to China that has been eyeing US action against India. Turkey, India and China have purchased the S-400 systems from Russia but only companies from Turkey and China have been sanctioned under CAATSA, a US domestic law introduced during the Trump era. India has so far not been acted against that has baffled China.
After the deal was finalised in the first week of December following President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India and the India-Russia Summit 2021 held in New Delhi, China has been provoking US to act. Its state sponsored media houses ran stories quoting analysts stating: “On Vladimir Putin’s visit to India and the India-Russia Summit 2021 held in New Delhi, Chinese analysts said the US that was most anxious, as it faced an awkward dilemma on whether to sanction India, which would lead to failure in its attempt to court India to contain China, or waive the sanction and lose the trust of its allies due to flip-flopping.”
The US has reported set aside the issue. “I think we’ve to look at what the balance is… The administration made clear that it is discouraging India from proceeding with the acquisitions of Russian equipment and there are important geostrategic considerations particularly with relationship to China,” said James O’Brien, US President Joe Biden’s nominee as Coordinator for Sanctions Policy over Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
“It’s difficult to compare the two situations – a NATO ally (Turkey) that is breaking with legacy and India, a partner of growing importance, but that has legacy relationships with Russia,” added O’Brien James while speaking before the US Senate at his confirmation hearing for the post.
