Washington: US Congressman Ro Khanna claimed that the decision taken by the US Congress to exclude India from the sanctions of the CAATSA is the most significant event after the ‘US–India Civil Nuclear Agreement’. In an interview with an Indian news agency, Khanna also expressed confidence that US President Joe Biden would expedite the process of excluding India from the sanctions under the CAATSA. He also claimed that the exclusion of India from the sanctions was a matter of political benefit for Biden.
The United States had threatened to impose sanctions on India for purchasing the S-400 Triumf air defence system from Russia. The Biden administration had warned that sanctions could be imposed on India under the ‘Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act’ (CAATSA). But last month, the US Congress passed a resolution to exclude India from the sanctions. At this time, the ruling and opposition parties in the United States had decided to stand unanimously with India on the issue. Against this backdrop, Congressman Ro Khanna has compared the decision directly with the approval of the US–India Civil Nuclear Agreement.
‘The relations between India and the United States are currently at a critical juncture against the background of an expansionist China and an expansionist Russia. This relationship marks a critical phase in the 21st century. It is necessary to deliver the message that the United States values its relations with India,’ Khanna said. The US Congressman claimed that this also becomes a vital development for strengthening the QUAD cooperation.
In 2018, India entered into a deal with Russia to purchase five units of the S-400 worth about $5 billion. One of these units came to India a few months ago and has also been deployed. The US threatened to impose sanctions against it, but India ignored it and completed the deal with Russia. The United States had imposed sanctions under CAATSA against Turkey for purchasing the same system from Russia. However, India had conveyed to the US that the decision to purchase its weapons would be taken in the national interest, regardless of the US warnings.
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