Congressional Amendment Seeks To Encourage India's Transition Away From Russian Weapons

In an effort to push American interests in the Indo-Pacific region, three senators have urged Washington to build a strong U.S.-India defense partnership to wean New Delhi away from Russian weapons.

In the amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act, Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) who is the co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, along with senators Jack Reed (D-RI) and Jim Inhofe (R-OK) have highlighted the serious threats India faces due to the military build-up along its border with China and stressed on the strong defense partnership between the U.S. and India is rooted in shared democratic values.

The proposed amendment comes amid India's sharp reaction to Washington's decision to offer an F-16 fleet-sustainment aid program to Pakistan, which is seen as a message to India over its relations with Russia. Following New Delhi's response, Washington is trying to mollify India with a promise to boost U.S.-India military cooperation.

While the amendment welcomes the U.S.-India initiative on critical and emerging technologies, calling it an essential step to developing closer partnerships between the governments, academia, and industries in the two countries, the lawmakers propose that the U.S. take steps to build a defense partnership.

"The United States should take additional steps to encourage India to accelerate its transition away from weapons and defense systems manufactured in the Russian Federation while strongly supporting India's immediate defense needs," reports quoting from the amendment said.

Russia has been a major supplier of military hardware to India for a long time and, amid the face-off between Moscow and the West over Ukraine, New Delhi has been under competing pressure to pick sides. While the West has pitched the prospect of deeper ties and a security boost in the Indo-Pacific region against China, Russia has offered the prospect of oil supplies.

In October 2018, New Delhi signed a $5 billion deal with Russia to buy five units of the S-400 air defense missile systems, despite Washington's warning that the deal would invite sanctions under the provisions of Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

Russia started delivery of the first regiment of the missile systems in December 2021. The system has been deployed to cover parts of the border with China and Pakistan.

Addressing the media after bilateral talks with Secretary of State Blinken in Washington on Sept. 27, Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar asserted the country's right to exercise a choice in its national interest in the procurement of weapons. India has faced no difficulties from Russia in terms of the service and supply of spare parts for equipment received despite the Ukraine war, Jaishankar told the press.