NEW DELHI(TIP): India and the US on Thursday, September 6, inked a vital agreement on seamless exchange of military information — Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) — even as New Delhi is clear that it will “stay the course” in its military relations with Moscow.

The purchase of state-of-the-art S-400 Russian air-defense missile system is at the heart of the threat of US sanctions against countries dealing with Moscow.

Russia was literally the “elephant in the room” when Indian and US delegations sat down for their first-ever 2+2 dialogue, sources confirmed, as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman met their US counterparts Mike Pompeo and Jim Mattis.

Sources said the US told India that it understood the need for New Delhi to maintain its Russian-origin military equipment, but in case big-ticket items (like the S-400) are purchased, cooperation with the US could be “affected”. India is buying the system for Rs 39,000 crore to have a protective air-defense umbrella.

India, in turn, has assured the US that its purchases from Russia do not harm the US’ interests in any manner. A US legislation Countering America’s Adversaries

Though Sanctions Act (CAATSA) provides for a waiver against sanctions to India, it’s not a blanket waiver. Pompeo’s remarks released to the press say, “Our effort here, too, is not to penalize great strategic partners like India, a major defense partner. The sanctions aren’t intended to adversely impact countries like India. They are intended to have an impact on the sanctioned country, which is Russia. And so, we’ll work our way through the waiver decision as the days and weeks proceed, and we’ll do that alongside our partner, India, as well.”

In another important development the two countries committed to start exchanges between the US Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) and the Indian Navy. India will post an attaché at Bahrain to coordinate with US forces. India and the US will begin negotiations on an Industrial Security Annex (ISA) that would support closer defense industry cooperation and collaboration.

About COMCASA

Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement will allow Indian defense forces to receive military-grade communications equipment from the US and ensure access to real-time encrypted information

It will help India gain access to critical communication network of the US armed forces

The pact, valid for 10 years, will ensure interoperability among the US and the Indian armed forces.