The%26nbsp%3Binauguration%20of%20Joe%20Biden%26nbsp%3Bas%20the%26nbsp%3B46th%20President%20of%20the%20United%20States%2C%20which%26nbsp%3Bis%20scheduled%20to%20be%20held%20on%20Wednesday%2C%20January%2020%2C%202021%20will%20be%20watched%20across%20the%20globe%20as%20the%20US%20President%20wields%20such%20huge%20authority%20and%20influence.%20Not%20surprisingly%2C%20speculation%20already%20abounds%20in%20most%20countries%20regarding%20the%20policies%20which%20the%20Biden%20Administration%20will%20adopt%20in%20regard%20to%20important%20issues.

There%20are%20undoubtedly%20some%20new%20challenges%20which%20the%20Indian%20government%20will%20face%20in%20regard%20to%20its%20relations%20with%20the%20US.%26nbsp%3BThere%20are%20already%20some%20existing%20problems%20that%20still%20need%20to%20be%20overcome%2C%20such%20as%20those%20relating%20to%20bilateral%20trade%20and%20restrictions%20on%20H1B%20visas%20which%20adversely%20impact%20Indian%20professionals%20and%20Indian%20software%20companies.%26nbsp%3B

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20Read%20%7C%3C/strong%3E%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/us-presidential-elections-2020-will-a-biden-victory-adversely-impact-india%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EUS%20presidential%20elections%202020%3A%20Will%20a%20Biden%20victory%20adversely%20impact%20India%3F%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

Biden%20may%20not%20immediately%20reverse%20some%20the%20Trump%20administration%27s%20policies%20which%20led%20to%20these%20problems%2C%20but%20we%20should%20give%20Prime%20Minister%20Narendra%20Modi%27s%20team%20some%20time%20for%20achieving%20their%20objectives.%20In%20any%20case%2C%20we%20have%20better%20prospects%20now%20than%20we%20had%20with%20Trump%20who%20had%20himself%20formulated%20these%20policies%20which%20were%20causing%20damage%20to%20our%20interests.%20Biden%20has%20shown%20that%20he%20takes%20a%20broader%20view%20on%20issues%20such%20as%20foreign%20trade%20as%20compared%20to%20Trump%20with%20his%20%27America%20First%27%20policy.%26nbsp%3B

Views%20have%20also%20been%20expressed%20by%20sections%20of%20India%27s%20intelligentsia%20that%20that%20the%20Biden%20Administration%20will%20not%20be%20too%20favourably%20disposed%20towards%20the%20present%20Indian%20government%20because%20of%20the%20close%20Trump-Modi%20personal%20bonding%20as%20witnessed%20during%20the%20Howdy%20Modi%20%28September%202019%29%20and%20Namaste%20Trump%20%28February%202020%29%20events%20held%20in%20Houston%20and%20Ahmedabad%20respectively.

They%20feel%20that%20this%20factor%20has%20negatively%20impacted%20Biden%27s%20perception%20of%20Modi%2C%20and%20this%20in%20turn%20will%20have%20adverse%20consequences%20for%20Indo-US%20relations.%26nbsp%3BModi%27s%20critics%20also%20think%20that%20Biden%20will%20take%20up%20a%20tough%20position%20in%20regard%20to%20issues%20such%20as%20Jammu%20and%20Kashmir%2C%20human%20rights%20and%20minority-related%20issues%20in%20India.%26nbsp%3B

The%20growth%20trajectory%20of%20Indo-US%20relations%20in%20recent%20years%26nbsp%3Bshows%20that%20such%20fears%20might%20be%20ill-founded.%26nbsp%3BHuman%20rights%20issues%20could%20come%20up%20during%20bilateral%20discussions%2C%20but%20more%20likely%20as%20they%20do%20among%20friends.%26nbsp%3BPublic%20criticism%20of%20the%20Indian%20government%20is%20not%20likely.%26nbsp%3BThis%20is%20because%20the%20level%20of%20Indo-US%20bilateral%20engagement%20has%20reached%20unprecedented%20levels%2C%20with%20China%27s%20territorial%20and%20economic%20expansionism%20serving%20as%20a%20catalyst%20in%20this%20regard.

This%20is%20evident%20from%20recent%20meetings%20like%20those%20of%20the%20Quad%20and%20the%202+2%20strategic%20dialogue%20held%20in%20October%202020.%26nbsp%3BThe%20Indo-US%20relationship%20is%20now%20inextricably%20linked%20in%20the%20political%20as%20well%20as%20economic%20spheres%2C%20and%26nbsp%3Bboth%20countries%20view%20each%20other%20as%20strategic%20partners.%26nbsp%3B

Significantly%2C%20the%20US%20had%20also%20designated%20India%20as%20a%20major%20defence%20partner%20in%202016.%26nbsp%3BIt%20may%20be%20noted%20that%20the%20US%20has%20signed%20four%20defence%20agreements%20with%20India%2C%20namely%20the%20General%20Security%20of%20Military%20Information%20Agreement%20%28GSOMA%29%2C%20Logistics%20Exchange%20Memorandum%20of%20Agreement%20%28LEMOA%29%2C%20Communications%20Compatibility%20and%20Security%20Agreement%20%28COMCASA%29%20and%26nbsp%3BBasic%20Exchange%20and%20Cooperation%20Agreement%20%28BECA%29.%20They%20pave%20the%20way%20for%20any%20defence%20purchases%20which%20India%20needs%20to%20make%20from%20the%20US%2C%20as%20well%20as%20for%20transfer%20of%20defence-related%20technology.%26nbsp%3B

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20Read%20%7C%3C/strong%3E%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/decoding-us-pressure-on-india-for-mq-9-reaper-drone-purchases%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EDecoding%20US%20pressure%20on%20India%20for%20MQ-9%20Reaper%20drone%20purchases%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

Indo-US%20joint%20military%20exercises%20have%20also%20become%20a%20significant%20factor%20in%20advancing%20the%20strategic%20relationship.%20The%20Malabar%20Naval%20Exercise%20has%20been%20held%20annually%20since%201992%3B%20the%20Americans%20suspended%20the%20exercises%20in%201998%20following%20the%20Pokharan%20nuclear%20test%20by%20India%2C%20but%20they%20were%20resumed%20again%20in%202002.%26nbsp%3B

Japan%20and%20Australia%20also%20participated%20in%20the%20Malabar%20Exercise%20held%20in%20November%202020%2C%20which%20thus%20became%20an%20extension%20of%20the%20Quad%20and%20sent%20across%20a%20clear%20message%20to%20China.%20In%20addition%2C%20Tiger%20Triumph%3Cstrong%3E%2C%26nbsp%3B%3C/strong%3Ea%20bilateral%20tri-service%20amphibious%20military%20exercise%26nbsp%3Binvolving%20the%26nbsp%3Barmed%20forces%26nbsp%3Bof%20India%26nbsp%3Band%20the%26nbsp%3BUnited%20States%26nbsp%3Bwas%20also%20held%20in%202019.%26nbsp%3B

It%20was%20the%20first%20tri-service%20military%20exercise%20between%20the%20two%20countries.%26nbsp%3BThese%20are%20just%20some%20of%20the%20developments%20which%20demonstrate%20how%20the%20defence%20and%20strategic%20partnership%20between%20India%20and%20the%20US%20has%20been%20growing%3B%20given%20the%20global%20challenges%2C%20this%20partnership%20is%20the%20need%20of%20the%20hour.%26nbsp%3B

Therefore%2C%20the%20really%20important%20question%20is%20whether%20the%20strategic%20partnership%20will%20continue%20smoothly%2C%20or%20could%20it%20hit%20some%20roadblocks%3F

It%20is%20not%20improbable%20that%20a%20problem%20could%20arise%20on%20account%20of%20CAATSA%20%28Countering%20America%27s%20Adversaries%20Through%20Sanctions%20Act%29%20which%20provides%20for%20sanctions%20for%20transactions%20with%20the%20Russian%20defence%20sector.%20In%20September%202018%2C%20CAATSA%20sanctions%20were%20imposed%20on%20China%20for%20purchasing%20the%20S-400%20missile%20defence%26nbsp%3Bsystem.%26nbsp%3BRecently%2C%20the%20United%20States%20invoked%20CAATSA%20against%20Turkey%u2019s%20for%20its%20purchase%20of%20the%20S-400%20missile%20defence%20system%20from%20Russia.

Earlier%2C%20in%20September%202018%2C%20CAATSA%20sanctions%20were%20imposed%20on%20China%20for%20the%20very%20same%20reason.%26nbsp%3BAssistant%20Secretary%20of%20State%20Christopher%20Ford%20said%20recently%20on%20December%2014%2C%20%22We%20hope%20that%20other%20countries%20around%20the%20world%20will%20also%20take%20note%20that%26nbsp%3Bthe%20United%20States%26nbsp%3Bwill%20fully%20implement%20CAATSA%20Section%20231%20sanctions%20and%20that%20they%20should%20avoid%20further%20acquisitions%20of%20Russian%20equipment%2C%20especially%20those%20that%20could%20trigger%20sanctions.%22

Naturally%2C%20this%20has%20raised%20concerns%20in%20India%20about%20the%20possibility%20of%20sanctions.%20After%20CAATSA%20was%20passed%20in%20August%202017%2C%20India%20had%20placed%20a%20%245.3%20billion-order%20for%20five%20units%20of%20the%20S-400%20missile%20defence%20system%20in%202018%20and%20also%20paid%20the%20first%20instalment%20of%20%24800%20million%20in%202019.%26nbsp%3B

The%20United%20States%20had%20offered%20Terminal%20High%20Altitude%20Area%20Defense%20%28THAAD%29%20and%20Patriot%20Advance%20Capability%20%28PAC-3%29%20missile%20defence%20systems%20to%20India%20in%20as%20an%20alternative%20to%20Russian%20S-400s.%20However%2C%26nbsp%3BIndian%20defence%20experts%20felt%20that%20it%20is%20the%20S-400%20system%20that%20meets%20the%26nbsp%3Boperational%26nbsp%3Brequirements%20of%20India.

The%20acquisition%20of%20the%20S-400%20could%20jeapordise%20the%20possibility%20of%20India%20acquiring%20certain%20advanced%20defence%20technologies%20from%20the%20US%2C%20an%20opportunity%20that%20opened%20up%20after%20the%20latter%20designated%20India%20as%20a%20Major%20Defence%20Partner%20in%202016.%20It%20would%20also%20severely%20jolt%20the%20bilateral%20strategic%20relationship.

%3Cstrong%3EAlso%20Read%20%7C%3C/strong%3E%20%3Ca%20target%3D%22_blank%22%20rel%3D%22noopener%20noreferrer%22%20href%3D%22https%3A//opoyi.com/erdogan-says-us-sanctions-over-russian-arms-would-be-disrespect%22%3E%3Cstrong%3EErdogan%20says%20US%20sanctions%20over%20Russian%20arms%20would%20be%20%27disrespect%27%3C/strong%3E%3C/a%3E

Thus%2C%20a%20really%20serious%20challenge%20for%20India%20would%20be%20to%20get%20Biden%20to%20give%20India%20an%20exemption%26nbsp%3Bfrom%20CAATSA%26nbsp%3Bfor%20its%20purchase%20of%20the%20S-400%20missile%20defence%20system%20from%20Russia.%20The%20US%20decides%20on%20a%20case-by-case%20basis%20whether%20to%20implement%20sanctions%20or%20grant%20a%20waiver.%20For%20sanctions%20to%20be%20triggered%2C%20a%20defence%20deal%20has%20to%20meet%20the%20threshold%20of%20being%20a%20%u2018significant%20transaction%u2019%20with%20specifically%20listed%20entities%20of%20Russian%20defence%20or%20intelligence%20sectors.%26nbsp%3B

The%20determination%20is%20based%20on%20factors%20like%20%u201Csignificance%26nbsp%3Bof%20the%20transaction%20to%20US%20national%20security%20and%20foreign%20policy%20interests%2C%20the%20nature%20and%20magnitude%20of%20the%20transaction%2C%20and%20the%20relation%20and%20significance%20of%20the%20transaction%20to%20the%20defence%20or%20intelligence%20sector%20of%20the%20Russian%20government.%u201D%26nbsp%3B

There%20is%20no%20denying%20the%20fact%20that%20a%20S-400%20deal%20is%20a%20%27significant%20transaction%27%20and%20that%20is%20why%20the%20US%20has%20sanctioned%20Turkey%2C%20which%20is%20a%20NATO%20ally%20of%20the%20US.%20Naturally%2C%20there%20will%20be%20calls%2C%20even%20from%20within%20the%20Biden%20administration%20to%20sanction%20India%20also.%20What%20can%20work%20in%20India%27s%20favour%20is%20that%20with%20an%20ever-expansionist%20and%20aggressive%20China%2C%20Biden%20may%20need%20India%20in%20his%20camp.%26nbsp%3B

Moreover%2C%20with%20India%20being%20the%20world%27s%20second%20largest%20arms%20importer%2C%20sanctioning%20India%20will%20affect%20future%20defence%20purchases%20from%20US%20manufacturers–something%20that%20Biden%20himself%20will%20surely%20not%20want.%26nbsp%3B

All%20said%20and%20done%2C%20the%20coming%20period%20will%20be%20watched%20with%20interest%20by%20anyone%20who%20has%20followed%20the%20upward%20trajectory%20of%20Indo-US%20relations%20in%20recent%20years.%20Given%20the%20global%20scenario%2C%20it%20is%20to%20be%20hoped%20that%20the%20Biden%20Administration%20will%20keep%20the%20bigger%20picture%20in%20mind%20and%20preserve%20the%20bilateral%20strategic%20relationship%20and%20not%20subject%20India%20to%20CAATSA.

%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23India%22%20data-user-id%3D%22Bq4MmUPrXF8p%22%20href%3D%22/topic/india%22%3E%23India%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23JoeBiden%22%20data-user-id%3D%225FRgjJ2CcsNt%22%20href%3D%22/topic/joe-biden%22%3E%23JoeBiden%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23Sanctions%22%20data-user-id%3D%229AXC3YoHzdH8%22%20href%3D%22/topic/sanctions%22%3E%23Sanctions%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23NarendraModi%22%20data-user-id%3D%22jDp4x2dV65uK%22%20href%3D%22/topic/narendra-modi%22%3E%23NarendraModi%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23DonaldTrump%22%20data-user-id%3D%226bkg9ruYdDHn%22%20href%3D%22/topic/donald-trump%22%3E%23DonaldTrump%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23Russia%22%20data-user-id%3D%22ZdjTIzNom80K%22%20href%3D%22/topic/russia%22%3E%23Russia%3C/a%3E%26nbsp%3B