2+2 talks: India to tell US its decision to go ahead with S-400 deal with Russia

September 02, 2018 15:26

India is expected to convey to the United States during the upcoming 2+2 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, notwithstanding the American sanctions on military transactions with Moscow, official sources said Sunday.

They said India is likely to seek a waiver from the Trump administration for the mega deal, citing its requirement for the missile system in the wake of the evolving regional security architecture as well as considering its close defence ties with Russia.

India has almost concluded the S-400 missile deal with Russia, and 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 Russia under the stringent Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act law for its annexation of Crimea as well as alleged meddling in the American presidential election in 2016.

CAATSA mandates the Donald Trump administration to punish entities and countries engaging in significant transaction with the defence or intelligence establishment of Russia.

Randall Schriver, the Pentagons senior official handling issues relating to Asia, said Thursday that the US cannot guarantee that India will be exempted from sanctions if it purchases weapons and defence systems from Russia.

The US has been indicating that it does not want India to finalise the deal with Russia.

-- PTI

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