NEW DELHI, Sept 2 - India is expected to convey to the US during the upcoming �two-plus-two� talks that it is going ahead with the Rs 40,000-crore deal with Russia to procure a batch of S-400 Triumf air defence missile systems, notwithstanding the American sanctions on military transactions with Moscow, official sources said here today.
They said India is likely to seek a waiver from the Trump administration for the deal, citing its requirement for the missile system in the wake of the evolving regional security architecture as well as considering its close defence ties with Russia.
�India has almost concluded the S-400 missile deal with Russia, and we are going ahead with it. Our position on the issue will be conveyed to the US,� a high-level official source said.
The US has imposed military sanctions against Russia under the stringent CAATSA (Countering America�s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) law for its annexation of Crimea as well as alleged meddling in the American presidential election in 2016.
CAATSA mandates the Donald Trump administration to punish entities and countries engaging in significant transaction with the defence or intelligence establishment of Russia.
Randall Schriver, the Pentagon�s senior official handling issues relating to Asia, said on Thursday that the US cannot guarantee that India will be exempted from sanctions if it purchases weapons and defence systems from Russia.
The first edition of the much-awaited 2+2 dialogue on strategic affairs between the US and India will take place here on September 6 during which a range of bilateral, regional and global issues of mutual interests will be discussed.
Under the new framework finalised last year, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will hold talks with Secretary of State Mike R Pompeo and Secretary of Defence James Mattis from the US. � PTI
