India quietly seals missile deal with Russia despite US warning

India signed a $5 billion deal to buy five Russian S-400 air defence systems on Friday despite a looming threat of US sanctions on countries that trade with Russia's defence and intelligence sectors.

The deal was signed in New Delhi during a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss nuclear energy, space exploration and trade.

India has requested that the US grant it a waiver for the deal from sanctions prescribed by the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, a US law passed i n August 2017 that is intended to punish Russia for its annexation of Crimea and alleged interference in the 2016 US elections.

TRT World's Neha Poonia brings the latest from the capital New Delhi.

Looming US sanctions

The US did not spare China from sanctions last month for purchasing its own Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems and fighter jets.

If the US does impose sanctions on India, it is unclear how India could pay Russia for the military equipment, since the law bars dollar-denominated financial transactions.

Jinnie Lee, a spokeswoman for the US Embassy in New Delhi, declined to comment on whether India would be granted a waiver, but said in a statement that the sanctions were "not intended to impose damage to the military capabilities of our allies or partners."

Officials with India's external affairs and defence ministries confirmed the deal was signed after Putin and Modi made no reference to it during a news conference following their talks.

An 11-page joint statement made only passing mention, saying that "the two sides welcomed the conclusion of the contract."

The deal will likely bolster the close relationship between India and Russia that dates back to the Cold War, when the US tilted toward Pakistan, India's neighbor and archrival.

But it is also likely to strain ties with Washington.

World's largest importer of arms equipment

India is the world's largest importer of military hardware, according to Mumbai-based think tank Gateway House, and has depended on Russia for political support as well as billions of dollars in military hardware. 

Nearly 70 percent of India's present-day defence equipment was procured from Russia, according to India's defence ministry.

India's acquisition of the S-400 long-range missile systems has been considered critical to countering a perceived threat from China, which is increasingly making economic inroads throughout South Asia, India's traditional sphere of influence, according to military experts.

"It gives the capability to destroy targets inside another country. It's a very important capability," said retired Indian air force Air Marshal Nirdosh Tyagi.

India has also developed closer defense ties to the US in recent years with joint military drills and defense sales.

India has signed more than $15 billion in US defence contracts since 2008, including for C-130J and C-17 transport aircraft, P-8I maritime patrol aircraft, Harpoon missiles and Ap ache and Chinook helicopters.