India defies US sanctions with Russian arms, Iranian oil
October 5, 2018
India and Russia have announced a major arms deal, violating US sanctions. Energy sector sources also say New Delhi will purchase 9 million barrels of Iranian oil. Both moves will test India's relations with the US.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Images/Y. Kadobnov
Advertisement
There were hugs, smiles and warm words between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin as the two held a press conference in New Delhi on Friday. Although a number of trade deals — including rail, space and nuclear technologies — were publicly signed during Putin's two-day visit, the most spectacular and controversial agreement was penned away from the cameras.
In September, the US slapped sanctions on China for its purchase of Russian fighter jets and S-400 systems. In August, the US State Department said that future sanctions would specifically focus on the S-400 system as Washington made clear that trade with Russia's military and intelligence sector would be punished with automatic sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
Initial US reaction from its embassy in New Delhi was cautious, stating that sanctions were designed as a punishment for "malign behavior," and not to "impose damage to the military capabilities of our allies and partners." The embassy noted that sanctions waivers would be reviewed on a "transaction-by-transaction basis."
Why is India interested in Russian missile system?
India has signed an agreement with Russia to purchase the S-400 surface-to-air missile defense system. The $5.2-billion accord was announced during President Vladimir Putin's two-day visit to New Delhi on October 4.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/S. Malgavko
Strengthening ties
After signing the missile defense agreement, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a joint statement that ties between New Delhi and Moscow are going "from strength to strength." It was the third time this year that Modi and Putin have held talks.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Images/Y. Kadobnov
What is the S-400 defense system?
The Russian-built S-400 surface-to-air missile defense system acts as a shield against incoming ballistic missiles. It is considered to be one of the world's most state-of-the-art, long-range, surface-to-air missile systems.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/S. Malgavko
India's interest
The Indian military wants to deploy missile batteries both as deterrent against China and also to gain an edge over another regional rival, Pakistan. With the help of this system, India can track and shoot down combat aircraft, even stealth planes, from long ranges.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/AP Photo
More deals in the pipeline
India is also planning to acquire 4 Krivak-class frigates from Russia. Two of these warships will be assembled at Goa shipyard, whereas the rest will be bought ready-made from Russia. The Indian navy already has six similar frigates.
Image: Imago/Itar-Tass
US warning
The United States has warned that countries signing agreements with Russia's defense and intelligence sectors will face heavy sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), which President Donald Trump signed into law in August, last year.
Image: Reuters/K. Lamarque
A difficult balancing act
More than 80 percent of India's military equipment came from the former Soviet Union during the Cold War. Since the 1990s, India has diversified its weapons purchase. The US is now one of India's top arms suppliers, closing $15 billion worth of deals in the past ten years.
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/A. Naveed
No US concession for India
The US has imposed sanctions on the Chinese military for its purchase of combat fighters as well as the S-400 missile system from Russia. India was hoping to get a waiver on CAATSA sanctions but the Trump administration is not ready to give any concession to its ally.
Image: Getty Images/AFP/F. Dufour
7 images1 | 7
An important part of a complicated puzzle
The US is an important trading partner for India and the two countries have also pledged to work more closely on defense. Last month the two announced joint military exercises to be held in 2019 as well as agreeing to the exchange of sensitive military information.
The balance of power in the region is complicated, with India and China facing off as adversaries, such as during a tense military showdown last year in the Himalayas, yet China has also made attempts to gain Indian trust as a way of keeping New Delhi from being drawn too closely into the US sphere of influence. This was evident when Prime Minister Modi traveled to China to meet with President Xi Jinping in April.
Although Modi did not mention military cooperation in his remarks alongside Putin, the Russian president emphasized it as an "important part" of Russian-Indian relations. Russia, historically a close ally of India, remains its largest military supplier. The United States is India's second largest supplier of military hardware, having sold New Delhi some $15 billion worth of arms over the last decade.
China displays military might as standoff with India intensifies
00:58
This browser does not support the video element.
Optimistic on trade
Trade between Russia and India, however, has declined of late as India has leaned more heavily on the US and Russia has cozied up to China and Pakistan — both of which New Delhi sees as strategic competitors.
Voices at the two-day summit were optimistic. Andrei Kostin, the president of the Russian state bank VTB, said India and Russia "have a strategic partnership and a very harmonious dialog at the political level but we have to complete this with the strengthening of economic ties."
Kostin said the two countries were aiming at tripling bilateral trade from its current $10 billion annual volume.
Testing American resolve on Iran
In another move that is sure to draw ire from Washington, sources in India's energy sector told Reuters news agency on Friday that the country will purchase 9 million barrels of oil from Iran this November. New US sanctions targeting Tehran's oil industry are set to go into effect on November 4. The sanctions are part of Washington's efforts to isolate Iran, which it claims is "the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism."
Although the 9 million barrel figure represents a drop in Indian imports of Iranian oil — 10 million barrels were imported in October — New Delhi does not seem likely to stop imports altogether. In May, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj said "India follows only UN sanctions and not unilateral sanctions by any country."
Protecting investments
India has also been critical of US President Trump's decision to pull out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), otherwise known as the Iran nuclear deal, as Iranian isolation threatens India's long-term strategic partnerships with the Islamic republic.
One of the largest such partnerships is represented by the Chabahar port development project on the Gulf of Oman. India has already invested $500 million in the project, which is scheduled to be operational in 2019. International isolation of Iran could put the port at risk.
International Army Games: Military athletes do battle
Tank biathlon, fighter-jet darts and Suvorov attacks — all part of the fun at the International Army Games. Russia's 'military Olympics' sees Syrian, Iranian and Israeli forces among others, face off in a friendly fight.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/V.Astapkovich
Opening ceremony
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu at the opening ceremony of the 2018 International Army Games. The competitions took place in Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Belarus and China. The 'military Olympics' were dreamed up a year after relations between Russia and the West went into freefall after the annexation of Crimea.
Image: Reuters/S. Karpukhin
On your marks...
Pictured here is a tank operated by a crew from China during the tank biathlon. The Chinese team finished second in the event behind Russia, with Belarus in third place. The teams raced through a 15-kilometer obstacle course while shooting at various targets.
Image: Reuters/S. Karpukhin
On target
A T-72 tank from Uganda fires during the Tank Biathlon competition in Alabino, near Moscow. The games began in 2015 with China and Russia's ex-Soviet neighbors. Participation in the Games has expanded to include as unlikely co-competitors as Iran and Israel, as well as NATO member, Greece.
Image: Reuters/S. Karpukhin
Flying the flag
Spectators watch a tank from the Venezuelan Army's team in the semifinals of the tank biathlon competiton at the Alabino training field near Moscow. The games provide an opportunity to demonstrate that Russia has international partners and that Western efforts to isolate Russia have failed.
Image: picture alliance/dpa/V.Astapkovich
Building bridges
Members of the Russian team transport tanks on a pontoon bridge during the Open Water competition for pontoon bridge units outside Murom, Russia. Although Russian forces are involved in several conflicts around the globe, the Games help Moscow make new friends.
Image: Reuters/M. Shemetov
Feel the force
Team Russia transports MSTA-S self-propelled howitzers on a pontoon bridge during the Open Water competition.
Image: Reuters/M. Shemetov
Aviadarts
A Kamov Ka-52 military helicopter during the Aviadarts competition at the Dubrovichi range outside Ryazan, Russia. Military pilots compete in visual aerial reconnaissance and piloting technique.
Image: Reuters/M. Shemetov
Suvorov attack
Two tanks climb a slope during the Suvorov Attack competition during the Games in Korla, Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region, China.
A Shaanxi Y-9 aircraft of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) during the 'Engagement of Ground Targets' stage of the Aviadarts contest at Dyagilevo Airfield.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/TASS/M. Lystseva
Russian Rambo
A Russian serviceman during the Battle Reconnaissance Competition. Reconnaissance teams from China, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Belarus and Russia took part in the competition held on the training grounds of the Novosibirisk High Command School in the Novosibirisk Region.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/A.Kryazhev
Family day out
Children play with a Soviet-era machine gun during the Games. Organizers insist there is no military subtext to the competition, but the event does give Russia a chance to showcase its military hardware.
