US Congress recommends sanctions waiver for India on purchase of Russian S-400 air defense

By Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) – The US Congress has recommended a wavier over sanctioning India for its purchase of Russian S-400 air defense, the Indian media said on Friday, in a stark contrast to its treatment of other countries who also bought the defense system.

The waiver proposal by the House of Representatives, Congress’ lower house, is meant to boost US-India defense ties as proposed by Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna, the daily India Times said.

The proposal argues that a strong US-India defense partnership is critical in light of growing threats in the region, calling sanctions counterproductive – an argument that was not made when sanctions were proposed against Türkiye, a steadfast NATO ally of the US since 1952.

The daily said possible sanctions under the US’ Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions (CAATSA) act have been hanging over the US-India relationship ever since New Delhi decided to buy Russian S-400 missile defense.

- Different countries, different standards

In 2018, India and Russia signed a $5.5 billion contract for the S-400 system, putting India at risk of US sanctions.

The US has long tried to deter countries from buying military equipment from Russia, threatening them with punitive measures under the CAATSA act.

Despite Washington's warnings, New Delhi moved forward with the purchase, arguing that it has strategic connections with both Russia and the US.

Türkiye, another country that went forward with its own S-400 purchase, dismissed threats of US sanctions, saying the missiles are a matter of national security and the purchase its own sovereign choice to make.

Türkiye made the purchase after its efforts to buy a Western system, including US-made Patriot missiles, were refused, leaving it no other avenue.

In 2019 the US suspended Türkiye from the F-35 fighter jet program after objecting to its buying Russian S-400 missile defense, claiming the Russian system would endanger the fighter jets.

Türkiye has said repeatedly that there is no conflict between the two, and proposed a commission to study this issue. Türkiye also said it fulfilled its obligations on the F-35s and that its suspension was against the rules.

Yet even with its longstanding ties with the US, and its contribution of the second-largest army in NATO, Türkiye has not benefited from the US Congress proposing any sanctions waiver.