In News

The announcement by Russia that supplies of the S-400 Triumf system to India has set the stage for Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit in early December. It has also thrown a chalenge to the U.S. that threatened sanctions against India.

Features of S-400

• Range: 400km
• Max speed: 4800m/s or Mach 15;
• Max Altitude: 10,000m- 30km(in final stages)
• Deployment time: 10minutes.
• Each system includes: a command post, 3-D phased array acquisition radar, Optional tracking radar, Firing units with associated multi-mode engagement radar, Various kind of missile;
• Rupee-Rouble deal: In order to protect advance payments for the S-400 from U.S. strictures, India and Russia conducted their transfers through a rupee-rouble system. With the first parts of the system now delivered, and the first squadron delivery likely to completed by December-end, the die is cast.

US's Reaction:

• In 2017, the U.S. had passed its Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) that provided for economic and travel sanctions against countries and officials that transacted significant military and intelligence contracts with Russia, North Korea and Iran.
• India has paid little heed to U.S. warnings that the sanctions — slapped on China and NATO partner, Turkey, for buying the S-400 — could also be used against India. Although India caveed-in on similar U.S. threats over the purchase of Iranian oil in 2019. India now have asserted that the S-400 deal is an essential part of India’s defences at a time of challenges on its eastern and western frontiers.

Way Forward

Rather than trying to reason with the U.S. for an exceptional waiver to its domestic law, New Delhi must make it clear to Washington that the law should be abandoned, as it negates the very “rules-based international order” that is the foundation of the India-U.S. global strategic partnership.