India’s proposed S-400 deal with Russia is sanctionable: US Senator to Llyod Austin

A senior US senator urged Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to convey the opposition by Washington to the proposed purchase of Russian air defence systems by India, as the former reached New Delhi on Friday for talks aimed at expansion on strategic ties, a media report said. 

India is planning to purchase Russian S-400 air defence systems, a move that could result in sanctions under US law. For the purchase of the same equipment from Russia by Turkey, the US has imposed sanctions on the latter. 

In a letter to Austin, Bob Menendez, the chairman of US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that if India will choose to go forward with the deal, the act will “constitute a significant, and therefore sanctionable, transaction with the Russian defense sector under Section 231 of CAATSA [Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act],” a Reuters report quoted.

Also Read | North Korea cuts ties with Malaysia over US extradition

According to the report, the Biden administration is against the deal, Menedez stated in the letter, adding that the law will limit India’s ability to work with the United States on “development and procurement of sensitive military technology.” He wrote, “I expect you to make all of these challenges clear in conversations with your Indian counterparts.”

Austin is on a three-day trip to India, starting Friday, as the visit is first made by a top member of the Biden administration to New Delhi. The trip comes as a part of efforts to form an alliance of countries that seek to push back China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region. 

Also Read | No engagement with the US until it changes ‘hostile policy’: North Korea

Austin is expected to talks about India-US ties, boosting cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and the aggressive behaviour of China in Ladakh, among others.

The two sides will also discuss India’s plan to purchase nearly 30 multi-mission armed Predator drones from the US and procurement of over 150 combat jets for the Indian air force, reports say. 

They said India’s plan to procure around 30 multi-mission armed Predator drones from the US for the three services at an estimated cost of over USD 3 billion is also expected to figure in the talks. The issue of India’s proposal to Russia to purchase the S-400 air defence system is also expected to come up.

Meanwhile, according to an Indian government official, during Austin’s trip, no announcements will be made regarding any deal as the talks would cover security issues in regional and international areas, Reuters reported.