India signs $5 billion deal for Russian air defence systems
(5 Oct 2018) India signed a 5 billion US dollars deal to buy five Russian S-400 air defence systems on Friday despite a looming threat of US sanctions on countries that trade with Russia's defense and intelligence sectors. The deal was signed in New Delhi during a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss nuclear energy, space exploration and trade. Lauding traditionally strong ties between the two nations, Modi said India gives “topmost priority,” to relations with Russia. India has requested that the US grant it a waiver for the deal from sanctions prescribed by the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, a US law passed in August 2017 that is intended to punish Russia for its annexation of Crimea and alleged interference in the 2016 US elections. The US did not spare China from sanctions last month for purchasing its own Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile systems and fighter jets. If the US does impose sanctions on India, it is unclear how India could pay Russia for the military equipment, since the law bars dollar-denominated financial transactions. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
