India to Pursue Independent Policy despite Sanctions Threat over Russia’s S-400

Local Editor

The $5.4 billion deal to supply Russian S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missiles to India was signed by the two countries in New Delhi on Friday. The delivery of the S-400s is reportedly due to begin in October 2020.

In this respect, India's Chief of Army Staff General Bipin Rawat signaled his country's resolve to pursue an independent policy in the face of looming US sanctions over New Delhi's purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems.

Rawat also said that the Indian Armed Forces are considering purchasing Russian Kamov helicopters and other weapon systems.

The statement came following Rawat's six-day visit to Russia where he met the country's highest-ranking military officials to discuss bilateral defense cooperation.

Earlier, the Russian President's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that India and Russia signed the $5.4 billion S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile deal on Friday during a bilateral meeting in New Delhi.

The delivery of the five advanced S-400 batteries will reportedly begin in October 2020 despite the looming threat of US financial sanctions against India.

The US has repeatedly tried to prevent other countries from buying the S-400 systems from Russia, particularly by invoking its Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act [CAATSA] which stipulates punitive measures for any third party that carries out major transactions with sanctioned Russian companies.

For its part, India has more than once made it clear that the US sanctions would not keep it from making crucial purchases from Russia.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team