Defence...

“We hope that they understand that India has strategic partnership with other countries too,” said one of the people mentioned in the first instance.

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said in July that India and Russia are close to concluding the S-400 deal and that India would go forward with the deal, adding that the new US law isn’t binding on India.

Indian officials have subsequently told their US counterparts that they have been diversifying the country’s defence purchases. The government recently approved a $2-billion government-to government deal for the purchase of 24 naval helicopters from US firm, Lockheed. Turkey, a NATO ally of the US, is also planning to buy the S-400 air defence system.

India is also in discussions with the US on the import of Iran crude, which falls afoul of the sanctions imposed by America on the West Asian nation. The person cited above said 83% of India’s total oil requirement is met by import, and that of this, 24% comes from Iran. “It is an important issue for us. Iran is a major source of crude import for us. We will take a decision free from external pressures.”

In May, the US withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and re-imposed sanctions that had been suspended in return for curbs on Tehran's nuclear programme. The people cited in the first instance said the Indian position is consistent; that it is against the Iran acquiring nuclear weapons but have the right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

The chief of US military said India was one of America’s “premier security partners”.

“Our nations are united by shared values and a commitment to freedom. The 2+2