India-Russia S-400 deal: US says sanctions waiver intended to 'wean' nations off Russia

After India formally signs the mega USD 5.4 billion S-400 missile defense deal with Russia, which places it in the bracket of a potential American sanction, the Trump administration said the presidential waiver granted by the Congress in this regard is narrow and intended to wean countries off of Russian equipment.

"The (CAATSA presidential) waiver is narrow, intended to wean countries off of Russian equipment and allow for things such as spare parts for previously-purchased equipment," a White House National Security Council Spokesperson told PTI Friday, a day after India entered into an agreement to purchase state of the art S-400 missile defense system.

The S-400 missile defense system would give India's defense a cutting-edge security against any missile attack by its enemies.