The Ukraine crisis is having a bearing on India's strategic ties with the United States - that has so far refrained from sanctioning India on this - saying that Russia selling S-400 missile defense system to India "shines a spotlight on the destabilising role" that Moscow is playing in the region and potentially beyond as well.

The US continues to have its concerns over India purchasing the multi-billion missile defense system from Russia. India has asserted that its decisions are based on its national interest to protect its national security.

"Well in many ways, this doesn't change the concerns that we have with the S-400 system. I think it shines a spotlight on the destabilising role that Russia is playing not only in the region but potentially beyond as well," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters on Thursday.

Price was responding to a question on implications of the Russian S-400 system to India on its bilateral ties with New Delhi given the unprecedented tension it is having with Moscow on what it calls an imminent Ukrainian invasion.

Despite strong objections from the US and threat of sanctions from the Biden Administration, India has refused to make any changes in its decision and has gone ahead with the purchase and supply of the missile defense system.

"Whether it is India, whether it is any other country, we continue to urge all countries to avoid major new transactions for Russian weapon systems," Price said.

The Biden Administration, so far, has not taken any decision on CAATSA sanctions. "I don't have a timeline to offer, but these are issues that we continue to discuss with our partners in India," Price said.

But India purchasing the cheaper S-400 system and Navy frigates and signing an agreement last month with Russian weapons company Kalashnikov to manufacture its AK-203 rifles in India have put a wrinkle in New Delhi-Washington relations raising national security issues for the US in their drive to achieve equipment interoperability as they forge closer military ties.
Price also said that the US has not decided whether to impose sanctions on India under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) which requires sanctions against countries buying Russian defence equipment.

“When it comes to CAATSA sanctions, you’ve heard me say before we haven’t made a determination with regard to this transaction, but it’s something we continue to discuss with the government of India, given the risk of sanctions for this particular transaction,” he said.

India's purchase of the S-400 system poses a quandary for the US because of the growing ties with New Delhi as a counterpoise to China in Asia and elsewhere.

James O'Brien, the nominee for Coordinator for Sanctions Policy, said earlier this month that in considering sanctions on India, “there are important geostrategic considerations, particularly with the relationship to China” and “so, I think, we have to look at what the balance is.”

Republican Senator Todd Young, who had asked O'Brien about CAATSA sanctions at his confirmation hearings, put the dilemma succinctly, “India is a vital ally in our competition against China, and that's why I believe we should resist taking any actions that might drive them away from us and the Quad. I'm therefore strongly supportive of waiving CAATSA sanctions against India, given our shared foreign policy interests.”

The Quad is the group of India, the US, Australia and Japan that is drawing closer together in the Indo-Pacific region that is witnessing increasingly aggressive actions by China.

As tensions mount between Russia and the US along with its allies, Washington has reached out to India to discuss the situation in Ukraine.

Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke with Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla last week and they discussed “Russia’s concerning military build-up on Ukraine’s borders,” Price said in a readout after the call. The Indian readout however did not mention the Russia discussion. 

Price added that they “agreed to remain closely coordinated on shared goals and priorities.”

According to the South Asia Brief of Foreign Policy magazine, the Ukraine crisis puts New Delhi under pressure from Washington to join the coalition of countries opposing Moscow’s military mobilization. "The more things escalate, the more challenges India will face as it tries to balance relations with both countries," it said. 

India doesn’t want to upset its long-standing relations with Russia by trying to rein it in, but an invasion of Ukraine would also spell disaster for its strategic interests, the Foreign Policy analysis added. 

(SAM)