Amid fears of US sanctions over the S-400 deal with Russia, Army chief Gen. Bipin Rawat on Sunday, 7 October, asserted that India follows an independent policy and was also keen on getting the Kamov helicopters and other weapon systems from Moscow.
India and Russia on Friday, 5 October, signed a multi-billion-dollar deal to procure the S-400 Triumf air defence system, which could attract sanctions under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The act is primarily aimed at countering Russia, Iran and North Korea.
India and Russia concluded the deal notwithstanding the US warning that it would be a "focus area" for it to implement punitive sanctions against a nation undertaking "significant" business deals with the Russians.
Gen. Rawat, who returned Saturday night after a six-day visit to Russia, held talks with military officials of that country to enhance bilateral cooperation.
The Army chief was speaking at the Gen. K V Krishna Rao Memorial lecture in New Delhi.
On his Russian visit, Gen. Rawat recalled a question posed to him by a Russian naval officer that India seemed to be looking westwards at America, which has put sanctions on Russia, and that Washington has also threatened to impose restrictions on New Delhi for dealing with Moscow. To this, Rawat responded saying:
Rawat also sought to assuage Russian concerns over India's growing ties with the US.
“You (Russia) can be rest assured (that) while we may be associating with America in getting some technology, but we follow an independent policy.
Rawat said India was looking forward to procuring Kamov helicopters and other weapon systems and technology from Russia.
He said New Delhi was looking to get space based systems and technologies from Moscow to enhance its space capabilities.
“There is no end in sight to the manner in which we can cooperate with your country. I think the way forward is to see what is best for the nation, strategically important for us,” he had said.
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