New Delhi: Army chief General Bipin Rawat asserted that India follows an independent policy and was also keen on getting the Kamov helicopters and other weapon systems from the Moscow. Amid fears of US sanctions over the S-400 deal with Russia.
India and Russia on Friday signed a multi-billion-dollar deal to procure the S-400 Triumf air defence system, which could attract sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The act is primarily aimed at countering Russia, Iran and North Korea.
India and Russia concluded the deal notwithstanding the US warning that it would be a “focus area” for it to implement punitive sanctions against a nation undertaking “significant” business deals with the Russians.
The US passed the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act earlier this year, and said countries trading with Russia’s defence and intelligence sectors would face automatic sanctions under the sweeping legislation.
Gen. Rawat, who returned on Saturday night after a six-day visit to Russia, held talks with military officials of that country to enhance bilateral cooperation. He said the Russians were very keen on associating with the Indian Army and defence forces.
“Because theydo understand that we are a strong Army, capableof standing up for what is right for us,based on our strategic thought process,” he said.
The Army chief was speaking at the Gen. K V Krishna Rao Memorial lecture here. On his Russian visit, Gen. Rawat recalled a question posed to him by a Russian naval officer that India seemed to be looking westwards at America, which has put sanctions on Russia, and that Washington has also threatened to impose restrictions on New Delhi for dealing with Moscow.
To this, Rawat responded saying, “Yes, we do appreciate that therecould be sanctions on us, but we follow an independent policy”.
Rawat also sought to assuage Russian concerns over India’s growing ties with the US. “You (Russia) can be rest assured (that) while we may be associating with America in getting some technology, but we follow an independent policy.