Washington: Keeping complex geopolitics of the day in mind, the US House of Representatives recommended a waiver for India from punitive US sanctions that could potentially be imposed on New Delhi for buying Russian defense equipment.
The waiver was part of an amendment on strengthening US-India defence relations proposed by Indian American Congressman Ro Khanna. The House voted on Thursday to pass the amendment considered to be an important signal. Working assiduously behind the scenes, Khanna managed to gather bipartisan support for the measure, making its passage almost certain.
The amendment essentially argues that a strong US-India defense partnership is critical in light of increasing threats in the Indo-Pacific and that US sanctions would be counter productive at this time.
A waiver for India under Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) is in the “best interests” of the US since India needs to maintain its Russian weapon systems as it faces “immediate and serious” threats from China along the border, the amendment said. Khanna termed his amendment “historic,” calling it a “huge” marker in bilateral relations.
Indian diplomats watching the process called the vote “significant” and appreciated Khanna’s willingness to stick his neck out for the India relationship. “Getting one chamber on record with a vote against sanctions is important,” one analyst said.
The amendment is attached to the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) for 2023, an annual legislation that funds the vast US defence budget. While it passed the House, the amendment must still clear the Senate to be truly meaningful. Although Khanna is confident the amendment will survive the Senate, it’s not a guarantee given the stance of a few key senators on domestic developments in India.
Interestingly, the US Congress already granted the State Department the requisite authority to waive CAATSA sanctions back in 2019, giving the executive branch flexibility in the matter. But the Joe Biden administration is yet to make a decision on the India case. It seems the Biden team prefers to let sleeping dogs lie instead of highlighting an issue that could prove politically difficult in light of Russia’s war against Ukraine and India’s stand on the ongoing conflict.
The CAATSA sword has been hanging over the US-India relationship ever since India went for the Russian S-400 missile defence system. Khanna’s amendment urges the Biden Administration to take a position, grant a waiver and remove the uncertainty surrounding the matter.
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