EAM S Jaishankar: 'India has made its decision on purchase of S-400'

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday, October 2 said, New Delhi has “made its decision” on the purchase of S400 missile system from Russia and held a discussion in this regard with Washington. S Jaishankar’s comments come amid the looming threat of United States sanctions over the purchase.

S Jaishankar: "I am reasonably convinced of the power of my persuasion"

External Affairs Minister participated in a conversation held at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, as a part of his three-day agenda in Washington. He was asked whether India is “willing to accept the consequences” of US actions over the purchase of the land-based missile system. S Jaishankar replied, "India has made a decision on the S400 issue and we have discussed that with the US government. I am reasonably convinced of the power of my persuasion. It would be my hope that people understand why this particular transaction is important for us,” he said.

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India had signed a USD 5.3 billion deal with Russia last year

Under the CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act), the US has imposed sanctions against arms purchases from Russia, alleging Moscow’s involvement in Ukraine and Syria. However, India had signed a USD 5.3 billion deal with Russia for the purchase of S-400s during the 19th India-Russia Annual Bilateral Summit in New Delhi on October 5, 2018. The United States has indicated that the Russian S-400 systems may trigger CAATSA sanctions. The US has previously sanctioned China’s Equipment Development Department (EDD) for the purchase of Russian S-400 missiles and Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets, triggering a diplomatic confrontation between China and the US. Turkey had also upset the US by purchasing the S-400 missiles.

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EAM S Jaishankar on India- US trade

S Jaishankar said most of the trade disputes between India and the US are 'resolvable in the near term', as he ruled out pushing the issue for the next American administration. In an event organised by the Carnegie Endowment for International Relationship think-tank, Jaishankar said the foreign policy and priorities of the Modi government is in tune with the realities of a New India, which is currently the fifth-largest global economy and is soon going to be the third-largest. "Most of the trade disputes (with the US) are resolvable in the near term," Jaishankar told the audience in his first engagement of his maiden trip to the US capital as External Affairs Minister. He said the Modi government wants to resolve the Indo-US bilateral trade issue as early as possible and does not want to push it for the next administration in the US.

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(With ANI inputs)