Better Sense Prevails : USA Finally Blinks Down On Imposing CAATSA on India
Last year India at last agreed with the US request and signed a specifically drafted Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) to smoothen the sale of advanced defence systems and other related equipment to India for optimal utilization of all existing US-origin platforms.
This was because the US seemed to be very apprehensive that its technology may be exposed to the Russians, whose equipment too are in huge numbers with the Indian Forces. One knave American official even went to the extent of stating that “ some Russians walking the shop floor decide to go, walk away and put it in their handbag or knapsack and take it back to Moscow. We”re not going to allow that.”
Generally merchants selling their goods are not permitted any leeway by the buyers to make any comments on the end use of the products. Normally such American officials would have been laughed out all the way from New Delhi to Washington for making such ludicrous statement “ we are not going to allow it “ !! Even a one time Portege, a two bit Pakistan cannot be controlled by you all is the Indian retort.
Eventually India will be fielding its own cutting edge technology covering the entire defence spectrum. However presently India does need a few bits and pieces to cover up various existing gaps and such needs are t be met by diversification of sources.
Thus as per this policy of ours, we have agreed to buy from USA because US industry and the government are interested in co-research, co-development and co-production with India in the defence sector. Some of their apprehensions are right when they say that “ we can”t do it in a fashion that will expose us as well as our industry to Competition/ countries with which we do not have good relations.”
When the Americans asked the Indians to stream line the safety protocols against snooping exposure by interested parties to steal American technology and protocols, then we agreed to do it for their specific equipment and signed COMCASA.
However while signing it India ensured that it gives no leeway or opportunity to permit the Americans to snoop on either Russian equipment or even the Indian activities.
So India has taken stringent measures to prevent defence technology leakage to either the Americans or the Russians.
One State Department official, addressed Turkey buying the Russian S-400 missile defence system, but wisely refrained from directly talking about India acquiring the same system when it was raised during a briefing on Thursday, but brought up security issues in cooperating with India.
The State Department which has approved the $1 billion sale of advanced MK-45 5 inch/62 calibre (MOD 4) navy guns to India this week did not open its mouth even though India had paid the Russian contractor $800 million as an advance in August for five S-400 units valued at about $5.4 billion.
Such comments against India they now know may not go down well with the Indian government and could lead to hiccups into sale of American weapons to India. Therefore American senior officials need to be encouraged to not even mention words like CAATSA or even utter words like Sanction. They in fact need to actively encourage their Senators and Congressmen also in similar manner.
In case USA imposes any kind of sanction on India then it is most likely to be reciprocated in similar manner and cancellation of all arms deal between India and the USA. Washington should not impose any sanctions on India for buying the Russian Triumf S-400 missile defence system but has all the right to appeal to New Delhi to tighten defence technology security measures to prevent snooping by Moscow.
The Americans should not even utter the vile word like waiver when talking about India. We Indians get highly irritated on hearing that USA will be giving waiver to India from the Countering America”s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which could be applied to India for buying equipment from Russian companies.
CAATSA as per the Americans “ bans countries from buying equipment worth more than $15 million from defence Russian companies listed under it and imposes sanctions against them.”. We Indians care two hoots for such laws of yours, they apply to you and your followers and may be to your NATO partners. It will cut no ice with Us.
Though President Donald Trump warned Turkish President Recep Erdogan during his recent visit that the Russian deal is going to put it at risk of sanctions. The US has not yet introduced CAATSA sanctions against Turkey, a NATO partner, but has refused to provide it with the advanced F-35 stealth combat jets. But the official said: “The timeline on CAATSA sanctions is not prescribed or absolute. There is still plenty of scope that could be applied as to where sanctions and the breadth and depth of sanctions could be imposed upon Turkey.”
