US ‘understands’ India needs Russian missiles to remain ‘strong partner’ in region, Nirmala Sitharaman says
- Defence minister is confident that New Delhi would avoid US sanctions over its purchase of Russian missile system
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New Delhi has been “heard and understood” by the US administration over its accord to buy the S-400 missile defence system for US$5.2 billion, the minister said.
The sanctions were part of measures to punish Moscow for its actions in Ukraine in 2014.
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It has also warned Nato member Turkey of sanctions for buying the S-400, and has suspended Turkey’s participation in a US jet programme.
Negotiations with Moscow, a long-standing supplier to India’s military, on the S-400 began before the US sanctions were introduced, she said.
“In the case of S-400 we have explained ourselves well … That has been heard and understood,” Sitharaman said. “They have appreciated the point of view put forward.”
Before the deal was signed, Washington poured cold water on India’s efforts to obtain a waiver from the US Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Upgrades in arms systems “including the S-400 air and missile defence system” would be a particular focus for CAATSA, a US State Department spokesperson was quoted as saying by India’s PTI news agency.
But Randall Schriver, Assistant Secretary of defence for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, told a hearing in March that Washington wanted to “work through” the problem, calling India “an important emerging strategic partner.”
He added, however, that India’s contract with Russia has not been completed and that the US was “very keen to see (India) make an alternative choice (to the S-400) and we are working with them to provide potential alternatives.”
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Washington is in a tricky position with India. It wants to bolster ties with the Asian giant to counter China’s assertiveness, a trend which has also rattled New Delhi.
“Sometimes there are differences and you have a face-off,” Sitharaman said. “But our attempt, particularly after the prime minister’s Wuhan meet with the Chinese president, our attempt has been that these differences … cannot be allowed to become disputes.”
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India has particular concerns about a series of projects passing through Pakistan-administered Kashmir, a disputed territory, which was the fuse for a new military flare-up between Pakistan and India in February.
New Delhi has reportedly declined a Chinese invitation to take part in a BRI forum in China later this month.
“Areas which are ours legally, which are under illegal occupation of Pakistan, are the ones which are becoming part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,” Sitharaman said.
“So having made that position very clear, we have not took part in anything to do with BRI, and we stick to that position,” she said.
