Source:-US once again frowns over India’s S-400 missile purchase from Russia, says ‘we could partner’
Continuing the pressure on India over its Russian purchases, a US official on Thursday warned a special waiver from US sanctions is ‘not guaranteed’ if India buys weapon platforms from Russia. News agency AFP cited Randall Schriver, the Pentagon’s assistant secretary of defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs as saying that the waiver is ‘misleading’ and added that Washington would have ‘significant concerns’ if India purchased new platforms from Russia.
The US has vehemently raised concerns over India’s planned purchase of S-400 Triumf missile system — reportedly pegged at a whopping $10 billion — from Russia.
“The waiver authority had created the impression Washington would insulate India from any fallout from this legislation no matter what they do… I would say that’s a bit misleading,” AFP quoted Schriver as saying at the Carnegie Endowment For International Peace in Washington. He further said that India purchasing S-400 long-range surface to air missile (LRSAM) is particularly “troubling” for the US and added that Washington’s “strong preference … is (for India) to seek alternatives and see if we could be a partner to India in addressing those defense needs.”
“We would still have very significant concerns if India pursued major new platforms and systems (from Russia). I can’t sit here and tell you that they would be exempt, that we would use that waiver,” he said further. In July, Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman had reportedly hinted towards going ahead with the S-400 purchase despite US reservations.
Schriver’s comment comes just days ahead of the crucial 2+2 dialogue between India and the US in New Delhi on September 6. It may be noted that US Defense Secretary James Mattis and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be meeting Indian counterparts Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi in the first dialogue that has once been postponed by the US for ‘unavoidable reasons’.
Source:- Times Now
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