Our effort is not to penalise, says Pompeo on India buying Russian S400 missile
Mattis and Pompeo praise US-Indian defence and economic ties
President Trump has repeatedly warned that anyone trading with Iran would not do business with the United States
As India and the US concluded their much awaited 2+2 dialogue in New Delhi, the US gave India elbow room to manoeuvre through the contentious Russian S400missile defencesystem.
"Our effort here is not to penalise a great strategic partner like India," Pompeo said on the question of India acquiring the Russian S400 air missile defence system.
India has been seeking to buy the Russian S400, however, President Trump has specifically barred countries from trading with Russian-made aramaments. The Trump administration has threatened sanctions against countries engaging in arms deal with the Putin government.
"We do understand the history of India's relationship with Russia and legacy systems," Pompeo asserted, adding,"The sanctions aren’t intended to adversely impact countries like India. They are intended to have an impact on the sanctioned countrywhich is Russia."
India has sought leeway with the Trump administration after the US signed the Strategic Trade Authorisations(STA-1) agreement with India last month. It allows the Indian government to buy high tech products from the US including high-grade military weapons. India is the first South Asian country to be allowed access to sensitive high tech US technology.
"They’re going to buy more energy products from the United States, they’re going to purchase more aircraft from the United States, we truly do appreciate that but the gap will remain," US secretary of state Mike Pompeo told reporters after the 2+2 dialogue.
"So we are urging them to do all that they can to narrow that gap. And at the same time, it’s important that the trade barriers that are there, places that American companies, that American workers products, can’t be sold here be reduced," the US secretary of state said.
Pompeo said the US administration was also working with Indian officials to tackle the issue of India's oil imports from Iran which face US sanctions. The sanctions which came into effect last month will move to a higher gear in November when the US government will target Iran's oil disallowing countries to import Iranian oil. India is seeking a way out of US sanctions.
President Trump has repeatedly warned that anyone trading with Iran would not do business with the United States, a view which has made several allies including India uncomfortable.