US sabotages India-Russia cooperation, Special Envoy says before Putin’s visit
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that the US had made efforts to sabotage the cooperative relationship between India and Russia ahead of the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India today.
The special envoy added that the S-400 deal between India and Russia has “a very important practical significance for India’s defense capabilities”.
“We have witnessed US efforts to sabotage this cooperation and make India obey US orders, follow US vision of how this region should be developed,” Foreign Minister said. Minister Lavrov criticized US pressure on India regarding the S-400 deal.
India’s purchase of advanced Russian S-400 missiles has led to criticism from the United States. Previously, the US had imposed sanctions on Turkey under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for purchasing the S-400 missile defense system.
While the US has not yet imposed such sanctions on India, the deal presents a major challenge to the relationship between the Biden administration and New Delhi.
“Our Indian friends have clearly and firmly explained that they are a sovereign country and who they will decide to buy weapons from and who will become India’s partners in this area. and other areas,” the Russian foreign minister said, trying to weaken the role of the United States. role in the missile deal.
The S-400 long-range surface-to-air missile defense system will also be a major focus of President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India as the Russian president seeks to woo a traditional ally.
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