US vows to help India end dependency on Russian arms

A senior US official pledged to help India end its dependence on Russian weapons, warning again China of sanctions.

The US deputy secretary of state Wendy Sherman said Washington would work with New Delhi to move away from its traditional reliance on Russian weapons, Times of India reports. 

"They understand that their military, which was built on Russian weapons, probably doesn't have a future with Russian weapons anymore because our sanctions have pulled back the military-industrial complex of Russia -- and it's not coming back anytime soon," the diplomat said.

Warning China of sanctions if it offers "material support" for Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, Sherman hoped Beijing will learn the "right lessons" from Russia's war, including that it can't separate the US from its allies.

“They have seen what we have done in terms of sanctions, export controls, designations, vis-a-vis Russia, so it should give them some idea of the menu from which we could choose if indeed China were to provide material support," Sherman told a crowd at an event in Brussels hosted by the group Friends of Europe, which is co-funded by the European Union.

China said this week it plans to continue strengthening strategic ties with Russia, showing the relationship remains solid despite growing concerns over war crimes committed by Putin's forces. At the same time, Chinese companies have been complying with US sanctions even though the government opposes them on grounds of sovereignty.

India has largely taken the same view as China on the war, supporting calls for a cease-fire and diplomatic solution while abstaining at the United Nations on votes for draft resolutions condemning Russia. The administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who spoke with President Joe Biden earlier this month, has told the US it needs Russian weapons to secure its border with China and the alternatives are too expensive.