NSA Doval to meet Bolton, Pompeo in US

WASHINGTON: India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval will meet his US counterpart John Bolton and secretary of state Michael Pompeo here on Friday against the backdrop of New Delhi facing the impact of US sanctions against Russia and Iran.

Bolton is Doval’s third counterpart in the Trump administration and this will be their first meeting. It will also be Bolton’s first high-level interaction with an Indian official after he took over from HR Mcmaster in April. Doval will meet Pompeo for the second time in as many weeks.

Doval’s visit comes just a week after the inaugural 2+2 dialogue between the foreign and defence ministers of the two countries, effusively described by both sides as “historic”.

Both sides are tightlipped about the agenda of Doval’s meetings, but they are taking place against the backdrop of India facing the unintended impact of US sanctions meant to punish Russia and Iran. The US has said waivers from these sanctions may be considered on a case-by-case basis but has fallen short of offering public guarantees.

India’s planned purchase of S-400 air defence systems from Russia expose it to curbs in place against Moscow under the Combating America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), while oil imports from Iran too are set to face renewed sanctions.