Expect India to 'downscale' Russian military equipment, says US
Washington, April 6: US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday stated that the United States expects India to reduce its purchases of Russian military equipment since Washington does not believe such deals are in New Delhi's best interest.
"We continue to work with to ensure that they understand... we believe it is not in (India's) best interests to continue to invest in Russian equipment," the US Defense Secretary told House Armed Services Committee during a Congressional hearing on the annual defence budget.
"Our requirement going forward is that they downscale the types of equipment that they are investing in and look to invest more in the types of things that will make us continue to be compatible," he added.
In the midst of the ongoing Ukraine war, India has refused to join Western sanctions against Russia.
The Indian military uses several Russian-made weapons like tanks, artillery guns and missile systems. Meanwhile, India has also signed deals to purchase Russia's S-400 air defence system, which has been under threat of US sanctions under Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).
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India has asserted its right to better deals for its energy needs, in addition to defence equipment. Despite the Ukraine war, Europe is increasing its purchases of Russian petroleum products, according to New Delhi.
On Monday, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki stated that the US feels that increasing Russian energy and other commodity imports are not in India's best interests.
This comes as the United States continues to put pressure on countries around the world to avoid buying Russian oil since it is cheaper.
In response to a question about India's import of Russian oil, Psaki stated that the US expects all countries across the world to obey the sanctions imposed on Russia.
"Energy payments are not sanctioned. That's a decision made by each individual country, and we've been very clear that each country is going to make their own choices even as we have made the decision and other countries have made the decision to ban energy imports," Psaki added.
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-PTC News
