New Delhi loses a crucial ally

WASHINGTON: When US defence secretary James Mattis urged lawmakers at a Congressional hearing to amend a law to waive Russia-related sanctions for India in April, Indian officials and experts felt reassured - he was certainly India’s crucial ally in the US.

Mattis was, and will probably remain so till February when he quits, the most enthusiastic and influential supporter of ties with India, according to experts and US officials.

“His departure is a loss, we lost a champion,” an Indian official said.

“This is...a Greek tragedy,” wrote Ashley Tellis, an Asia expert with think-tank Carnegie, in an email response to a request for comments.

“His departure is a big loss for the country. He was a towering centre of sanity and the source of reassurance for America’s friends and allies. With him goes the last great champion of strong Us-india ties in this administration,” Tellis wrote.

As a result of Mattis’ efforts, US lawmakers agreed to change the CAATSA law (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) to give India a waiver.

A decision on the sanctions waiver is still awaited. But for Mattis, though, the matter was already settled. “We will sort out all those issues here today and in the days ahead,” Mattis had told reporters during Indian defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s recent visit to the US. “We will work everything out - trust me.”