CAATSA: America to impose sanctions on Russian dealings

The President of the US under section 231 of the act will be empowered to impose at least five of the total twelve listed sanctions.

The American Congress under Trump has not left any effort to divulge nations into categories of friends and adversaries. The Trump administration dealing in either black or white refrains from giving air to countries having the greyish approach.

CAATSA, Countering American Adversaries Through Sanctions Act will imply on nations seeking deals with other partners given the fact that they enjoy a strategic relationship with the US as well. The act, in its initial phase, appeared to be countering North Korea, Iran, and Russia but sanctions seem to be looming over other countries also.

The President of the US under section 231 of the act will be empowered to impose at least five of the total twelve listed sanctions.

The Act in a broader sense is intended to lessen options for nations willing to trade with Russia or other American rivals in defense manufacturing, oil sector, and others. The message is clear, you can't couple American Apache or Chinook with Russian Mil Mi-24 or Ka-52.

What is the way forward for countries like India and Vietnam which conventionally relied on Russian artillery but now developing an affinity towards US mark weaponry?

These countries are trying to shift towards American defense technology and hence some relief has to be very much on cards.

As James Mattis, defense secretary puts in - requests for a National Security Waiver, a special provision for India, Vietnam and Indonesia, having in storage huge Russian made weapon systems, has been made. Their transition from being tilted towards Russian technology to moving in favor of US will take time. If the sanctions are unilaterally imposed it may worsen the situation.

A top US admiral has also warned Congress against imposing any sanction on a country like India as the US may lose an important partner in the Indian Ocean region. China, in that case, will take control of the entire Indo-Pacific region and American interests may see a downfall.

The bill will also have an impact on National Defence Authorization Act which prioritizes funding for the department of defense in the fiscal year. The bill authorizes a total of USD 695.9 along with additional USD 28.5 for readiness recovery.

India, on the other hand, is in the advanced stages of negotiations for over five S-400 anti-missile defense systems from Russia and this US considers a digression on the part of India as far as the Indo-US strategic partnership is concerned.

The act is said to check balance the Russian overtures in Syria and punish it for the Ukraine adventure and military interventions frequently.

- Mohit Pandey