Washington has indicated that Russian S-400 systems can trigger CAATSA sanctions. (File)
Washington:
A spokesperson for the US State Department said the US has not yet decided on a waiver of potential sanctions against India for purchasing the S-400 missile defense system from Russia, noting that the Act Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions (CAATSA) has no bulk or country-specific waivers.
The Joe Biden administration also called on “all of our allies and partners” to abandon dealings with Russia that could potentially lead to sanctions under CAATSA, the spokesman said ahead of reports that Russia has begun delivering S-400 to India.
India signed a $5.43 billion deal with Russia to purchase five S-400 surface-to-air missile systems during the 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit in New Delhi in September. 10 in 2019, for long-term security needs.
Washington has indicated that Russian S-400 systems can trigger CAATSA sanctions. CAATSA is a federal law of the United States that imposes sanctions on Iran, North Korea, and Russia.
CAATSA authorizes the US administration to impose sanctions on countries that buy major defense assets from Russia in response to Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and alleged interference in the presidential election. USA in 2016.
Amid calls by US senators to waive sanctions against India, the spokesperson clarified that CAATSA has no general or country-specific waivers.
“We call on all of our allies and partners to waive their dealings with Russia that could potentially lead to sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). No decision has been made on the possible waiver of India’s arms deals with Russia, the CAATSA spokesman said.
“The US-India defense partnership has expanded significantly in recent years, commensurate with India’s status as a major defense partner. We expect this strong dynamic in the relationship with Our defense partnership will continue. We value our strategic partnership with India,” the spokesman added.
(Except for the title, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from an aggregated feed.)
