CAATSA, a political and a commercial tool

Context: The selective application of sanctions under Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) of the US exposes its commercial ambitions other than countering Russian aggression.

Analyzing CAATSA’s real objectives:

• Countering Russian Aggression: The USA had imposed CAATSA in 2017 against Russian defence, security, gas and oil entities in retaliation to Moscow’s military intervention in Ukraine
• Commercial Ambitions of US : India’s preference to Russian aircraft (MIG-29 and Sukhoi) over the US’s F-16s have created a negative sentiment.

• • • The US wants to shift its aging fighters’ manufacturing industry facility to India to keep them going and providing employment under the ‘America First’ initiative.

• Selective use of sanctions: Jane’s Defence Weekly (UK) argues that each transaction with the US is evaluated on a case-by-case basis and does not impose a blanket or country-specific ban.

• • • Deals attracting threat from CAATSA: Since US has alternatives to offer.

• In 2018, India’s acquisition of 5 S-400 ‘Triumf’ air missile defense systems for Indian Air force over US’s Patriot and THAAD anti-ballistic missile defence system.

• Deals that did not attract CAATSA: Since the US is not in competition to fulfill following sundry items.

•  $950 million deal import of two Admiral Grigorovich- class stealth frigates for the Navy to be built at Russia’s Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad;
• March 2019, India signed a $3-billion agreement to lease a second Russian Project 971 Akula-class nuclear-powered attack submarine for the Navy;
• Advanced negotiations with Russia to licence-build 7,50,000 Russian Kalashnikov AK-203 assault rifles for all three services

Conclusion: The real objective of CAATSA needs to be analyzed if it is simply a precision bombing by the US at the behest of powerful arms lobby or a tool to preclude Russia’s involvement in US elections.