The Trump administration, seemingly determined to impose fresh set of sanctions on Iran and countries and entities engaged in business with Tehran, is suddenly developing cold feet. The bully has realized that there are some who per force have to call the bluff and they also happen to be friends.
So USA now has no choice but to review its policy on imposing sanctions on India. Just because Trump wants it, India will neither stop importing oil from Iran nor stop the development of Chabahar port, both vital to India’s economy and security. Also, how can India forget that USA had put sanctions after the Nuclear tests. Though within a short period the Americans themselves had to eat crow.
The Chabahar port is considered as a gateway to golden opportunities for trade by India, Iran and Afghanistan with central Asian countries besides ramping up trade among the three countries in the wake of Pakistan denying transit access to New Delhi.
So now very “graciously” Americans are “ reviewing Chabahar project in this context, in particular of Afghanistan, and in the spirit that the idea of sanctions are not to punish partners or to imperil partners, but to bring a price tag for Iran’s malign behaviour,” says Alice Wells, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia.
“As we review the issue of Chabahar, it’ll be in the context of what it provides for the stabilisation of Afghanistan or for the kind of regional connectivity that serves other interests as well. But it’s an ongoing process of review,” Wells said in response to a question at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a top American think-tank.
Last month, President Donald Trump issued a strong warning to anyone trading with Iran, following his re-imposition of sanctions on the country.
During the recently held 2+2 Dialogue, Wells said the US emphasised the administration’s resolve to impose sanctions on Iran and voiced its expectation that its partners will work to reduce oil imports from the oil-rich Islamic Republic to zero. However soon USA has understood that India is not a Partner but a friend on EQUAL basis and hence there is no place for unilateral actions or threats in this friendship.
Wells also said the Trump administration is very focused on bringing Iranian oil exports down to zero by November. As such, the US officials have had a detailed conversation both with the Indian private sector and the Indian counterparts to discuss what this means and what steps the US is taking to ensure the adequate supply. All very fine but then India will have its own response and it was clearly spelt out to both the American Ministers in no uncertain terms.
The devious nature and double talk of the Americans comes out from the veiled threat to the Indian Private Sector by saying “We’ve already seen a reduction underway over the last month. There’s been a substantial reduction (in India’s purchase of oil from Iran). I think the private sector responds to a risk and concern over consequences. So I think that’s going to be there. You’re going to see a clear response from the private sector in that regard and will continue our conversations with the government of India,” she said.
Well Ms Wells does not realize that the private sector in India will have to act exactly as per the Govt regulations on the subject and not what USA administration says. Also the so called reduction in oil flow from Iran is due to other reasons and not because of US sanction threats.
Then spoke another, Shri David F Helvey, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defence for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs. He said that the Trump administration is committed to implementing all provisions of Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which imposes sanctions on countries and entities making major arms deal with Russia. A recent amendment has the provision of a presidential waiver in some cases.
“We are working with our partners, including India, and talking to them about ways to encourage them to avoid potentially, sanctionable acquisitions or activities. So those conversations are ongoing,” he said, noting that he can’t really get into details or the specifics of what those conversations are.
When will these lowly officials realize that India does not get “ encouraged “ even by the White House itself. India is going ahead with its deals with Russia and no binocular is required to see them. Its out in the open.
“But I do think it’s just important to know that the purpose of the sanctions is not to punish our allies or our partners or damage their military capabilities. (The purpose) is to impose costs and consequences on Russia for its behaviour. This is a complicated issue. We are having the conversation with India and all our partners. But I’m not gonna speculate on how, when, or where, or if, that waiver provision would be employed,” Helvey said. This is purely a preamble to save American face on the issue of sanctions.
Responding to a question, Helvey said the Trump administration recognises that there’s a considerable amount of India’s legacy force structures of Russian origin or other defence partners of India. When will the Americans stop harping on this. India will continue to have Russian equipment till India becomes 100% self sufficient. That will also mean an end to import of any American weapons too.
“We’re willing to share that with our partners and we just have to make sure that we have the right types of assurances with that. So when you have agreements, whether it’s COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) or others, that allow us to have that confidence that gives us the space to be able to move forward and look at where we can do,” he said. Yes American equipment in use by India will have COMCASA. However there will be no interoperability access given to USA with respect to any of the Russian / French equipment and vice verca.
India and America have started looking at co-development and co-production in the defence technology and trade initiative or even just looking at ways to have the right type of interoperability and that’s what the COMCASA agreement allows. However India is having the same relations with Russia too and both are looking at many things for Co Development and Co production in defence and further boost in trade. This is what Indo Russian friendship is all about.
