Biden adviser, India may circumvent US restrictions on the S-400 deal

On Wednesday, there were more indications that the Biden administration would ease sanctions against India for purchasing the Russian S-400 air defense system, with a senior official saying that Washington would have to balance geostrategic considerations involving China against a domestic law that calls for punitive action.

At his confirmation hearing, James O'Brien, President Biden's candidate for the US State Department's coordinator for sanctions policy, expressed support for the administration's and Congress's decision to give New Delhi a pass, “The administration has made clear that it is discouraging India from proceeding with the acquisitions of Russian equipment, and there are important geostrategic considerations, particularly with (unintelligible) relationship to China. So, I think we have to look at what the balance is.”

Even as MPs pointed out that New Delhi is in the midst of obtaining new frigate ships from Russia, there were hints that India could be able to get around sanctions for the systems that Moscow has already begun selling.

Todd Young, Indiana Senator said, “India is a vital ally in our competition against China, and thus, I believe we should resist taking any actions that might drive them away from us and the Quad. I am therefore strongly supportive of waiving CAATSA sanctions against India, given our shared foreign policy interests.” 

Despite rising anti-Russia sentiment in the United States as a result of Russia's alleged election meddling and aggressive posture in its sphere of influence, the Biden administration and lawmakers appear intent on giving New Delhi enough leeway for the time being in exchange for assurances that India will wean itself off Russian military supplies.

“As most here know, the Indians have a lot of legacy systems from previous decades, and they are interoperable with the Russians’ systems. And the Indians seek to defend their land border from Chinese incursions and defend the Indian Ocean from an increasingly adventurous and lawless blue ocean navy in the People’s Liberation Army.”

Young stated his support for a waiver under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which is a domestic statute in the United States (CAATSA).

Despite warnings from the then-Trump administration that proceeding with the transaction could result in US sanctions, India struck a USD 5 billion deal with Russia to buy five S-400 air defense missile systems. The systems were delivered late last year.

While CAATSA is being used against Turkey, a NATO partner whose relations with Washington have recently deteriorated, the US administration has hesitated to give India a pass. When asked about this by Young, O'Brien said it's tough to compare the two circumstances, but that India is "a partner of growing  importance.”