As India runs the risk of triggering US sanctions over the impending purchase of the S-400 Surface-to-Air-Missile (SAM) system from Russia, the government on Friday reminded the United States that India has always followed an independent foreign policy.
A recent US Congressional report — prepared for members of the US Congress so as to help them make ‘informed decisions” — had cautioned that India’s acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system may provoke American sanctions. “India’s multi-billion dollar deal to purchase the Russian-made S-400 air defence system may trigger US sanctions on India under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA)”, the report had said.
America recently imposed sanctions on Turkey under the provisions of CAATSA for “knowingly engaging in a significant transaction” with Rosoboronexport, a prominent Russian arms export entity, by procuring the same S-400 system. This sanction, the US had said, was a clear signal that it will not tolerate “significant transactions” with Russia’s defence and intelligence sectors.
The Indian foreign ministry has said that while the USA and India have a comprehensive global strategic partnership, India has a special and privileged strategic partnership with Russia.
“India has always pursued an independent foreign policy. This also applies to our defence acquisitions and supplies which are guided by our national security interests,” Anurag Srivastava, a spokesman for the MEA, told reporters.
Nikolai Kudashev, Russian ambassador to India, had earlier said that both India and Russia saw all sanctions as illegal, unless they had been imposed by the UN Security Council.