India receives US warning about buying weapons from Russia
Washington is worried at the prospect of New Delhi buying new armaments from Russia, including its S-400 long-range, surface-to-air missile system
A top Pentagon official has cautioned India that there are no guarantees for a special waiver from US sanctions if it buys new weapons platforms from Russia.
Washington is alarmed at the prospect of India, an increasingly important US military ally and the world’s top defence importer, buying new systems from Russia, including its S-400 long-range, surface-to-air missile system.
Under current US rules against Russia, third countries could face sanctions if they transact with Russian defence or intelligence sectors.
But after lobbying from Defence Secretary James Mattis, Congress granted the US president and the secretary of state the option of granting waivers, such as when an ally nation transitions from legacy Russian gear to Western arms.
Randall Schriver, the Pentagon’s assistant secretary of defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, said the waiver authority had created the impression Washington would insulate India “from any fallout from this legislation no matter what they do”.