S-400 deal: Will India get exemption from CAATSA sanctions? Here’s what Biden’s nominee said

Even as India faces the prospect of inviting CAATSA sanctions by the US against the purchase of the Russian-made S-400 missile system, a top official from Biden’s administration has indicated that New Delhi may be exempted under the American law.

James O’Brien, the nominee for Coordinator for Sanctions Policy, on Wednesday said that despite aspersions cast by some senior officials,

“there are important geostrategic considerations, particularly with the relationship to China” and “so, I think, we have to look at what the balance is”.

O’Brien was summoned before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee for his confirmation hearing.

During the hearing, Republican Senator Todd Young was asking O’Brien about sanctioning India under the Countering America`s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) which requires sanctions against countries buying Russian defence equipment.