US reacts to India-Russia S-400 missile deal
Shortly after India concluded a deal for the purchase of S-400 missile defence system from Russia, the United States in a guarded reaction on Friday said its intent to slap sanctions against Russia was not aimed at imposing damage to the military capabilities of its "allies or partners.”
The US further clarified that the intent to slap sanctions on Russia was to impose costs for its "malign behaviour".
Any waiver will be considered on a transaction-by-transaction basis, the US said, adding it cannot prejudge any sanctions decisions.
"Waivers of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) section 231 will be considered on a transaction-by-transaction basis. We cannot prejudge any sanctions decisions,” said the US embassy spokesperson, as he responded to a query on impact of anti-Russia sanctions on India after the conclusion of the S-400 contract.
"The intent of our implementation of CAATSA is to impose costs on Russia for its malign behavior, including by stopping the flow of money to Russia’s defense sector. CAATSA is not intended to impose damage to the military capabilities of our allies or partners," he added.
The spokesperson however said, "the waiver authority is not for a blanket waiver. It is transaction-specific. There are strict criteria for considering a waiver."
India and Russia on Friday concluded the USD 5 billion S-400 air defence system deal, notwithstanding the US warning that the deal would be a "focus area" for it to implement punitive sanctions against a nation undertaking "significant" business deals with the Russians.
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