On S-400 purchase, General Bipin Rawat says ‘there could be sanctions, but we follow an independent policy’ 

General Bipin Rawat.

During his keynote address at the General KV Krishna Rao inaugural memorial lecture, Army chief General Bipin Rawat, on Sunday, said “India follows an independent policy. Therefore, it has signed the deal for S-400 weapons system with Russia despite of threat of US sanctions under CAATSA.”  He also said that there was “no end in sight to the manner in which India and Russia can cooperate”.

While answering to a Russian naval officer’s question, Rawat said, “Yes, we do appreciate that there could be sanctions on us, but we follow an independent policy. You can rest assured. While we may be associating with America in getting some technology, but we follow an independent policy.”

Rawat further said, “While we are talking sanctions and you are questioning on sanctions, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are signing the treaty on the purchase of the S-400 weapon system in spite of the fact that we may face challenges from America in the future and a $5.3 billion deal has been signed between the two countries.”

Rawat, on Saturday, met the top brass of the Russian armed forces after he returned from a six-day visit to Russia. He said, “Russians are very keen on associating with the Indian Army because we are very capable. We are capable of standing for what is right for us based on our strategic thought process.”

General Rawat further said, “We are also looking forward to getting other weapon systems, space-based systems and technologies to enhance our space capabilities … and to getting Kamov helicopters from Russia.”

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