Right before the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov was scheduled to arrive in New Delhi, the Deputy National Security Advisor (NSA) of the United States of America sent out a warning to countries with trade relations with Russia.
Daleep Singh, the US Deputy NSA and the chief architect of the sanctions levied on Russia, said that countries that “actively attempt to circumvent the sanctions” will have to face the consequences.
The Deputy NSA stated that the relationship between Russia and China could be seen as a red flag as it is one with “no limits” on both sides. The relationship might also have profound implications for India.
“No one should kid themselves — Russia is going to be the junior partner in this relationship with China. And the more leverage that China gains over Russia, the less favourable that is for India,” he stated.
“I don’t think anyone would believe that if China once again breached the Line of Actual Control, Russia would come running in India’s defence. And so that’s the context in which we really want the democracies across the world and specifically, the Quad to come together and voice your shared interests and your shared concerns about the developments in Ukraine and the implications.” Singh said.
Daleep Singh is an Indian-American official who is also the man responsible for the sanctions that the US has imposed against Russian leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Lavrov, amongst other top officials and oligarchs.
Singh met with senior officials in the Prime Minister’s Office, Finance Ministry, and the External Affairs Ministry during his trip to New Delhi. On Wednesday, the Deputy NSA also met with Piyush Goyal, the minister of Commerce and Industry.
Russia has placed sanctions on Daleep Singh as well. The Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, Liz Truss, arrived in New Delhi on Thursday and held talks with the External Affairs Minister of India, S Jaishankar.
Jaishankar’s Russian counterpart, Lavrov, is scheduled to hold talks with him on Friday.
Emphasizing that “friends don’t set red lines”, Singh said, “We are very keen for all countries, especially our allies and partners, not to create mechanisms that prop up the ruble and attempt to undermine the dollar-based financial system” to evade sanctions.
The Deputy NSA highlighted that while India is not violating any of the sanctions currently, the United States would not like to see any nation taking advantage of the situation in Russia to increase their energy supplies rapidly.
“That’s the subject of private discussions; I am not going to share that…on specific transactions and hypotheticals, I’m going to leave those conversations private,” Singh replied when he was questioned whether any specific transaction such as the S-400 will face the consequences.
Daleep Singh listed five channels of sanctions that include enforcing immediate and acute costs on the largest banks and the central bank in Russia; cutting off essential technology; revoking Russia’s MFN status, denial of IMF and World Bank, borrowing privileges from Russia; “holding to account the Russian Kleptocracy” and “downgrading Russia’s status as a leading energy supplier.”
“I have come here in a spirit of friendship to explain the mechanisms of our sanctions, the importance of joining us to express shared resolve and to advance shared interests. And, and yes, there are consequences to countries that actively attempt to circumvent or backfill the sanctions,” Singh stated.
Daleep Singh was appointed as the Deputy NSA by the Biden administration in 2021. He deals with international economics.
Published By – Damandeep Singh
Edited By- Kritika Kashyap
