U.S. House votes for CAATSA sanctions waiver to India over S-400s

• US Assembly has approved waiver to India against the punitive CAATSA sanctions for its purchase of the S-400 missile defence system from Russia.
  • Aimed to help deter aggressors like China.

Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA)

• Signed in August 2017
• Empowers the US President to impose at least five of 12 listed sanctions — enumerated in Section 235 — on persons engaged in a “significant transaction” with the Russian defence and intelligence sectors.
• Meant to punish countries having deep engagements with Russia, North Korea, and Iran using economic sanctions.

Prelims Takeways:

• CAATSA
• S-400 Triumf