WASHINGTON – Top US defence official has renewed warnings to India againstpurchasing Russian-made arms and defence systems like the S-400, ahead of ahistoric first meeting next month between both nations’ defence and foreignaffairs heads.
“We would still have very significant concerns if India pursued major newplatforms and systems (from Russia),” Randall Schriver, the US AssistantSecretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, told anaudience at the Carnegie Endowment For International Peace in Washington onWednesday.
“If they choose to go down that route, like I said, I can’t sit here andtell you today that the waiver will necessarily be used,” Schrivercontinued, referencing a congressional loophole that allows US allies toprotect themselves from current sanctions imposed against Russia byWashington.
Under the current US rules against Russia, third-party governments couldface sanctions for dealing with the Russian defence or intelligencesectors. However, due to recent lobbying by Defence Secretary Jim Mattis,Congress has granted the US president and the secretary of state an abilityto grant waivers, such as when an ally nation transitions from legacyRussian gear to Western arms.
India, a long-time buyer of Russian defense gear since the Soviet era, hasin recent years turned towards Western defence firms in the US and Francefor new equipment. But it still relies on Russian expertise and equipmentto maintain its existing arsenal and fleets.
In the recent past, this stockpile has proven useful for US foreign policyobjectives in the region, particularly in Afghanistan. Last month, Indiadelivered three Russian-origin attack helicopters to the Afghan Air Force(AAF), with three more expected to be on the way.
It has also provided spare parts and maintenance expertise to the AAF’sgrounded Soviet-era fleet as part of Washington’s multi-billionmodernisation of the Afghan Armed Forces.
A sticking point in the relationship, however, stems from the purchase ofbig-ticket items like the S-400 air-defense system, which has also plaguedWashington’s relationship with Turkey.