NEW DELHI (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 06th June, 2019) India is implementing the deal over Russian S-400 Triumf (NATO reporting name SA-21 Growler) anti-aircraft missile systems despite the threat to face US sanctions prescribed by CAATSA law, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar said on Thursday.
"You know the background, you know that we already have a contract that has been signed and you already know that the steps are being undertaken to implement the contract," Kumar said during a briefing when asked whether India was planning to implement the deal with Russia over S-400 shipments while Washington was threatening to impose sanctions on the state.
He also stressed that New Delhi was still maintaining dialogue with the US side over S-400 as it was one of the most important strategic partners of India in defense cooperation alongside with Russia. However, he refused to reveal what exactly the sides were discussing in this regard.
In early October, Moscow and New Delhi concluded a contract on shipments of Russia's S-400 missile systems to India worth over $5 billion. The deal was signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's two-day visit to India. According to Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov, the contract has been signed in the Russian national Currency.
Washington has long been criticizing India for military cooperation with Russia. The US side is referring to CAATSA law which was passed in August 2017 and envisions punitive measures for any third party that carries out major transactions with sanctioned Russian companies, especially from the defense industry. Despite that, India hopes it will not face US sanctions over S-400 shipments, according to Indian former Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
