WASHINGTON: A top US defence official has renewed warnings to India against purchasing Russian-made arms and defence systems like the S-400, ahead of a historic first meeting next month between both nations’ defence and foreign affairs heads.
“We would still have very significant concerns if India pursued major new platforms and systems (from Russia),” Randall Schriver, the US Assistant Secretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, told an audience at the Carnegie Endowment For International Peace in Washington on Wednesday.
“If they choose to go down that route, like I said, I can’t sit here and tell you today that the waiver will necessarily be used,” Schriver continued, referencing a congressional loophole that allows US allies to protect themselves from current sanctions imposed against Russia by Washington.
Under the current US rules against Russia, third-party governments could face sanctions for dealing with the Russian defence or intelligence sectors. However, due to recent lobbying by Defence Secretary Jim Mattis, Congress has granted the US president and the secretary of state an ability to grant waivers, such as when an ally nation transitions from legacy Russian gear to Western arms.
India, a long-time buyer of Russian defense gear since the Soviet era, has in recent years turned towards Western defence firms in the US and France for new equipment. But it still relies on Russian expertise and equipment to maintain its existing arsenal and fleets.
In the recent past, this stockpile has proven useful for US foreign policy objectives in the region, particularly in Afghanistan. Last month, India delivered 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’s grounded Soviet-era fleet as part of Washington’s multi-billion modernisation of the Afghan Armed Forces.
A sticking point in the relationship, however, stems from the purchase of big-ticket items like the S-400 air-defense system, which has also plagued Washington’s relationship with Turkey.
India is poised to ink contracts on the S-400 deal later this year, with deliveries scheduled to start as early as 2020. The sale is expected to be discussed during talks next week when Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo visit their counterparts in New Delhi, after which Schriver noted the administration will decide whether concerns over India’s S-400 purchase outweigh the desire to strengthen strategic ties. “Our strong preference, Schriver concluded, is (for India) to seek alternatives and see if we could be a partner to India in addressing those defense needs.”