US should amend laws to reduce India's dependence on Russian weapons

Washington: India is heavily dependent on Russia for weapons. Three US senators strongly demanded that the Biden administration amend US laws to reduce Indian dependence on Russia. These US senators say that for its interests in the Indo-Pacific region, the United States must equip India, which is likely to be threatened by China, further with weapons.

Moreover, Senator Mark Warner, Senator Jack Reid and Senator Jim Inhofe, co-chairmen of the India Caucus of the US Senate, demanded an amendment to the ‘US National Defense Authorization Act.’ India needs to be supplied with advanced weapons. India is heavily dependent on Russia on this front. It is necessary to encourage India to come out of this. These senators demanded that the Biden administration take quick steps to amend the said law. Also, considering the possible threat to India from China, these senators have pointed out the need for the United States to provide sophisticated weapons to India for US interests in the Indo-Pacific region.

Furthermore, these senators reminded that India-US defence cooperation is based on the principle of democracy. Meanwhile, during his recent visit to the United States, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar pointed out that US policies are responsible for developing military cooperation between India and Russia. Jaishankar reprimanded the United States ‘During the Cold War era, India had repeatedly demanded arms from the United States. But at that time, the United States rejected the Indian demands. Because of this, India had to buy arms and defence materials from Soviet Russia.’

Indian media highlighted this reprimand given by External Affairs Minister Jaishankar to the United States, threatening to impose sanctions against India over purchasing S-400 air defence systems from Russia. Therefore, after the visit of External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, this demand made by US senators to the Biden administration regarding India became noteworthy. The United States is worried about the possible threat to India from China, much more than that. The United States is concerned about inviting the defence equipment market to India. For this, the United States is giving new proposals to India and it is clear that the interest of the companies involved in the US arms manufacturing industry is also behind the demand for reforming the ‘National Defense Authorization Act’ of the United States.

India has also shown its readiness to purchase advanced weapons and defence equipment from the United States for its defence needs. However, the two countries’ transactions have not yet reached the expected height.