America supports India to buy $400 missile defence system from Russia

New Delhi: America has supported India to buy a $400 missile defence system from Russia to deter aggressors like China. To this end, the US House of Representatives has approved a legislative amendment by a voice vote to give India an exemption from punitive sanctions laws such as America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA)

The US House of Representatives passed this legislative amendment as a part of the en bloc amendment regarding the consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). To this extent, this amendment, which was introduced by the representative of the United States, Indian- American Ro Khanna, asked the Biden administration to provide an exemption from this American law so that India can protect itself from China.

It was in this context that the amendment introduced to give exemption to the US strict law was approved. Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna also said that this amendment act passed by the US for India-US bilateral relations will become very important.

Actually, CAATSA is a strict US law. In 2017, the US brought in this tough law to impose sanctions on countries that buy weapons from Russia due to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and interference in the 2016 US presidential elections.

This law allows the US government to take punitive measures against any country that has transactions with Russia's defense intelligence sector. In October 2018, India signed a $5 billion deal with Russia to purchase five units of $400 air defence missile system. However, the then Trump administration warned that it would be impossible for India to go ahead with this agreement as sanctions related to the US penal law would apply.

Moreover, the US imposed sanctions on Turkey, which has already purchased the $400 missile system, which has increased India's fears. But, with the approval of this legislative amendment by the US, India has now got some relief.