Alexander Nemenov / AFP
Despite US threats to impose sanctions on everyone who buys high-tech Russian-made military equipment, India’s Defense Ministry has reportedly approved a decision to buy S-400 air defense systems from Russia.
According to sources of the Times of India, the country;s defense minister Nirmala Sitharaman forwarded the $5.7bn deal to purchase S-400 for final government approval.
“The S-400 procurement case will now go to the finance ministry for clearance and the PM-led Cabinet Committee on Security for the final nod,” the Times of India’s source at the Defence Acquisitions Council (DAC) said. “The country’s top political leadership will have to take a call on when the actual contract can be inked.”
The US has repeatedly threatened India and Turkey with sanctions if the countries buy S-400 air defense systems. In case of Turkey, the US threat is to ban deliveries of the F-35 stealth fighter jets.
Ankara has responded to this threat by saying that it is going to implement the S-400 deal despite the US reaction.
