Biden Administration Advised To desist from trying to dictate to India
The Trump administration had initially tried the CAATSA threat to dissuade India from the S400 deal with Russia. Then realizing their folly, they just backed down as any further threat would have put an end to the growing defence ties between USA and India.
However a fresh statement from a Washington based so called observer of India, Richard Rossow, shows that Americans remain as myopic as ever, with respect to India. “This might be the single biggest obstacle in India-US relations in the next few years,” Rossow, a senior adviser and the Wadhwani Chair in US-India Policy Studies at CSIS, said in an interview. This reference was to the S400 deal.
The S-400’s anti-missile system’s radar has a range of at least 600 kilometres for surveillance and 400km strike range. It can track a large number of targets simultaneously. India needs 16+ such systems to cover the entire country through an interlocking grid of missiles.
We are purchasing just 5 systems for Rs 37000 Crores from Russia. By the time these systems are fully integrated by the Indian Air Defence Command in next few years, the first of the fully indigenous system should start rolling out.
US has been vehement in its opposition to India’s defence deals with Russia, probably due to the fact that the Indian Air Force had rejected the American air defence systems on offer after technical evaluation. This seems to have enraged the Americans so much that they have been trying to threaten India with CAATSA and such other idiotic, unworkable laws of theirs. Imagine any country big or small trying to impose its law on India and also hoping that they will succeed ?
India is not a member of either of the groupings led by USA or by Russia. It makes it own sovereign decisions. India has bought five Russian Almaz-Antei S-400 Triumf self-propelled surface-to-air (SAM) systems after a considered decision with hard cash.
The deal was signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India in October 2018. The delivery of the first batch of the Triumf-made air defence system likely to reach India by the end of 2021.
However, ever since the deal has been signed, there had been massive opposition from the Trump administration, which had even hinted at punitive action against India. Trump had said India should drop the deal to avoid a diplomatic crisis.
They just forgot that crisis would have been for the USA……losing a close friend and a lucrative market especially for arms. Yes India wants to buy certain kind of weapons from USA too with cash. However such antics on part of USA will only ensure that India will not go for any weapon deal with it.
A similar deal that Turkey struck with the Vladimir Putin-led government in Russia led to USA sanctions against Ankara. “We urge all of our allies and partners to forgo transactions with Russia that risk triggering sanctions under the CAATSA. CAATSA does not have any blanket or country-specific waiver provision,” a US embassy spokesperson told Reuters.
India is neither an ally nor a partner of USA, it has good friendship based on mutual respect and equality.
For India, there is no dilemma. It would like America as a strong ally who will stand with it, when India takes on China over occupied Ladhak and Tibet.
However for this India will neither become a NATO like ally or carry out any appeasement. On the other hand, India will also have its solid relationship with Russia even when the Russians nowadays behave more friendly relationship with China than most other countries in the world.
Also the USA is in NO position to arm twist India economically, politically or militarily. When USA could not get its way in 1971 or after India carried out a Nuclear Blast, then how can any one imagine that it can do so now.
Donald Trump is gone and Joe Biden is in as the 46th President of the United States. India welcomes that US has joined the Paris Climate Accord, and that immigration to US via H-1B visas may become easier for Indian talent, and many other positive changes that may occur.
Indians look to more closer interaction based on equality. In case the Americans behave, India may like to purchase the following:-
- 18x P8I Long Range MR aircraft
- 24x C130 transport aircraft
- 24x Chinook helicopters
- 12x C17 transport aircraft
