India to seek clarity on Russia waiver in 2+2 talks

NEWDELHI/WASHINGTON: New Delhi will raise American sanctions that can impact India-russia military ties at the inaugural “2+2” dialogue, Indian officials said on Friday after a top Pentagon official warned there were no guarantees for a special waiver if India signs new arm deals with Russia.

Under current US rules, third countries can face sanctions for deals with Russia’s defence or intelligence sectors. President Donald Trump recently signed a defence spending bill that amended the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) to grant waivers against certain conditions that India fulfills easily.

Reacting to remarks by Randall Schriver, the Pentagon’s assistant secretary of defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, two Indian officials said India has made it clear to the US that it won’t allow military ties with Russia to be derailed by the sanctions.

The officials said CAATSA and its impact on India’s military readiness is “a matter of continuing discussions between India and the US”. Aspects related to the US sanctions will be discussed at the 2+2 talks on September 6, one of the officials said.

“India has conveyed to the US that the sanctions legislation cannot be allowed to derail Indiarussia military ties. And they are sensitive to our concerns, given the widespread use of Russian weapons in our military,” the official added.

Addressing an audience at the Carnegie Endowment For International Peace in Washington on Wednesday, Schriver said the waiver authority had created the impression the US would insulate India “from any fallout from this legislation no matter what they do”. He added, “I would say that’s a bit misleading.

“We would still have very significant concerns if India pursued major new platforms and systems (from Russia),” Schriver said ahead of the 2+2 dialogue.