PM Modi to Biden meet today, the $5 billion deal with Russia that New Delhi is keeping in balance

Will sanctions on Russia play spoilsport for India taking delivery of weapons that New Delhi considers to be critical in countering China? That is the question defence experts are asking even as a Russian Diplomat was quoted as saying that the crisis would not impact India-Russia ties, especially in areas of defence.

Russia has long been a key arms supplier to India. The long-range S-400 ground-to-air missile defence system is one of their most high-profile current contracts. The deal for S-400 units is worth ₹ 35,000 cr ($5 billion). It has the capability to help India tackle air threats from up to 400 km and thus critical in defence against China.

The S-400 deal with is already a sore point between US and India and it is up in the air if the Biden administration will invoke CAATSA on India.

CAATSA is a tough U.S. law that was brought in 2017 and authorises the U.S. administration to impose sanctions on countries that purchase major defence hardware from any country the US sanctions.