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EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

Key defence deal signed with Russia despite US curbs threat

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NEW DELHI/MOSCOW: India has signed a multi-billion dollar deal to buy S-400 air defence missile systems from Russia, brushing aside the threat of sanctions from the United States.


The deal is almost certain to arouse tensions with Washington, which imposed sanctions against China last month over purchases of Russian weaponry, including S-400-related equipment.


Both Russia and India played down the deal. Visiting President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi made no mention of the contract during their statements to the press following their summit in New Delhi.


“The sides welcomed the conclusion of the contract for the supply of the S-400 Long Range Surface to Air Missile System to India,” said the joint statement issued after the talks, giving no details on the deal. The US has sanctions against Russia’s state arms exporter, Rosoboronexport, over Moscow’s involvement in the Ukraine crisis.


The deal for five S-400 missile systems is worth $5 billion, according to Indian and Russian media reports.


In all, eight agreements were signed after the talks to bolster cooperation in areas such as nuclear energy, economy and space, in which Russia will help India launch its first manned space mission scheduled by 2022.


Both countries decided to step up cooperation in the international arena, including combating the menace of terrorism and drug trafficking, Putin said.


“Our special and privileged strategic relationship has received impetus and direction from our annual summits. The significant decisions taken today will go a long way in making our bilateral relations more powerful,” Modi said.


The S-400 missiles deal exposes India to US sanctions under the legislation known as Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions Act or CAATSA.


Under the legislation, US imposes sanctions on any country that has “significant transactions” with Iran, North Korea and Russia. Ahead of Putin’s arrival in New Delhi, Washington had dashed Indian hopes to obtain a waiver to avoid sanctions.


Upgrades in weapon systems “including the S-400 air and missile defence system” would be a particular focus area for CAATSA, the US State Department spokesperson said, according to Indian media reports.


Indian think-tank Gateway House said the issues mainly lay in paying for Russian hardware since US sanctions make it impossible for India to compensate its supplier in dollars.


Besides, with US dominating the global financial system, large international banks with exposure to US will be unlikely to facilitate a payment in another currency, such as the euro.


The S-400, which can target aircraft as well as ballistic and cruise missiles, is one of the world’s most sophisticated air defence systems.


— dpa


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