Notwithstanding the American sanctions on military transactions with Moscow, India is likely to tell US during the upcoming 'two-plus-two' talks that it is going ahead with the Rs 40,000 crore deal with Russia to procure a batch of S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems and seek a waiver to this effect.
The inaugural round of 2+2 dialogue with the US on Thursday is being hosted by India. The ministerial-level meeting, which will debate bilateral, regional and global issues, will have External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman from the Indian side, while the US side will be represented by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis.
Official sources here on Sunday expressed confidence that they will be able to convince American counterparts the need to put this deal out of sanctions, citing requirement for the missile system in the wake of the evolving regional security architecture. India has almost concluded the S-400 missile deal with Russia. "We are going ahead with it. Our position on the issue will be conveyed to the US," said a high-level official source. The US has imposed military sanctions against Moscow under the stringent Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) for its annexation of Crimea as well as alleged meddling in the American presidential election in 2016. The law mandates the Donald Trump administration to punish entities and countries engaging in a significant transaction with the defence or intelligence establishment of Russia.
Last week, a senior Pentagon official Randall Schriver, ruled out any exemption to India, if it purchases weapons and defence systems from Russia. The 2+2 dialogue was postponed twice in the past. The dialogue which was scheduled for July 6 was postponed after Pompeo called up Swaraj seeking a "mutually convenient time." The talks were cancelled earlier in March due to uncertainties that prevailed over Pompeo's confirmation in his post. While there is precedence to grant a waiver which has been granted to Indonesia and Vietnam, but it requires certification by the U.S. that the country concerned is gradually reducing its dependency on Russian equipment and cooperating with the U.S. on critical security issues.
In 2016, the US designated India as a 'Major Defence Partner' country and also included it in the Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 (STA-1) category to enable transfer of high-end technology. India has already signed GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement) in 2002. The other agreements awaiting signatures relating to logistics support, communications compatibility and security exchanges of geospatial information are proving challenging. The text of the logistics support agreement was concluded in 2016, to facilitate logistics supplies during port visits and joint exercises. Both countries are now looking to conclude Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), which enables to install high-end secure communication equipment on U.S. platforms that India has been acquiring.
Another major issue to deal with the Americans is to seek a waiver from using the Iranian port of Chabahar. The port provides India connectivity to Afghanistan and Central Asia. Iran was also the third largest supplier of oil to India in 2017-18.
‘DEFENCE PARTNER’
- In 2016, the US designated India as a ‘Major Defence Partner’ and included it in Strategic Trade Authorisation-1 (STA-1) category to enable transfer of high-end tech.
- Also with growing ties with Washington, taking a stand on Russia deal was proving tricky.
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