The economic sanctions that the White House is going to impose on India because of the purchase of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft systems will bring double harm to America. Firstly, one of the largest states in the world will be alienated from the United States. Secondly, they will strengthen New Delhi's military cooperation with Moscow and make it much more difficult for Washington to contain Beijing.
When it comes to international relations, Washington sometimes seems to be its own worst enemy. US political leaders regularly say and do things designed, apparently, to alienate allies and other foreign partners, writes Forbes. The reason for such unflattering assessments was the Biden administration's plans to punish the Indian authorities for the purchase of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft systems. The United States has already imposed sanctions against China and Turkey for similar actions, New Delhi is next in line.
However, there is a special issue with India. Washington has spent many years and efforts to include it in the anti-Chinese coalition "Quadrilateral Security Dialogue" - which also includes Australia and Japan. These two countries are longtime allies of the United States, but Biden needs the administration of Narendra Mori to make the coalition work. At the same time, it is clear that India needs modern air defense systems - the country borders on hostile nuclear powers, China and Pakistan.
For Washington, it would be the height of frivolity and political suicide to impose sanctions against New Delhi now, when countries need each other equally badly. And it's not just about politics - India is one of the largest importers of weapons (10 percent of the world market). All previous years, the United States has consistently built a dialogue with Indian partners, promoting American products to the local market. All these gains can be crossed out by one signature of Joe Biden. And Russia and China will benefit from this. The first will expand the supply of its weapons to India, the second will lose a strong deterrent.
Anton Valagin
