NEW DELHI: With the threat of US sanctions looming over India for the impending purchase of S-400 surface-to-air missile system from Russia, the government on Friday reminded the US that India has always followed an independent foreign policy.
The foreign ministry said while India and the US have a comprehensive global strategic partnership, India has a special and privileged strategic partnership with Russia.
"India has always pursued an independent foreign policy. This also applies to our defence acquisitions and supplies which are guided by our national security interests," MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said.
A US Congressional report had recently warned that India's purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system may trigger American sanctions.
Prepared for members of the US Congress for them to take "informed decisions", the report said, "India''s multi-billion dollar deal to purchase the Russian-made S-400 air defence system may trigger US sanctions on India under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA)."
Russian ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev had said recently both India and Russia saw as illegal all sanctions other than those imposed by the UN Security Council.
The US recently imposed CAATSA on Turkey for "knowingly engaging in a significant transaction" with Rosoboronexport, Russia’s main arms export entity, by procuring the same S-400 system. It also called its action a clear signal that it will not tolerate "significant transactions" with Russia’s defence and intelligence sectors.
Kudashev had said that the proposed deal for supply of S-400 to India was "advancing well".