Russia "Begins Supplying S-400 Batteries to India"... US Sanctions Concerns

S-400 First Battery Supply Expected from Year-End
Diplomatic Tensions Feared with India, a Quad Key Country

[Image source=TASS·Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Russia has announced that it will begin supplying its domestically developed missile defense system, the S-400, to India before the end of the year, raising concerns about diplomatic friction between the United States and India. Previously, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Turkey for acquiring the S-400, drawing attention to whether similar sanctions will be applied to India. India is currently a key member of the U.S.-led Quad, a military alliance aimed at countering China, so it is expected that U.S. sanctions will be difficult to impose.

According to Russia's TASS news agency on the 14th (local time), Alexander Mikheyev, CEO of Rosoboronexport, a Russian defense intermediary company, attended an airshow in Dubai and stated, "The first S-400 missile battery will be delivered to India by the end of the year," emphasizing, "According to the contract deadline, supply is planned to begin before the end of the year." Earlier, Russia had announced since October that the S-400 would be supplied to India before the end of the year.

The Indian government signed a supply contract worth $5.43 billion (approximately 6.4 trillion KRW) for five S-400 missile batteries during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to India in October 2018. According to the contract, Russia and India initially agreed to start missile deliveries from October last year and complete them by April 2023, but the schedule was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If the supply proceeds as planned, India will become the third country to receive the S-400 missile defense system after China and Turkey.

However, concerns are emerging about potential diplomatic friction between the U.S. and India as India's acquisition of the S-400 becomes a reality. The U.S. government opposed Turkey's acquisition of the S-400, a NATO member, citing risks of sensitive military information leaking to Russia. When the Turkish government proceeded with the acquisition despite U.S. opposition, the U.S. imposed sanctions on Turkey under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

India is currently a core member of the U.S.-led Quad military consultation group aimed at countering China, so controversy is expected to continue within the U.S. The U.S. political media outlet The Hill explained, "India's acquisition of the S-400 poses risks to the U.S. by potentially hindering deeper policy integration through the Quad or compromising U.S. stealth capabilities," adding, "If the U.S. government is to exempt India from sanctions on the S-400 acquisition considering military cooperation with India and the Quad, various restrictive measures are expected to be implemented alongside."