India’s S-400 Gamble: Balancing Russian Arms and U.S. Sanctions Pressure (CAATSA)
When India signed a $5.4 billion contract with Russia in 2018 for the S-400 Triumf air defense system, it wasn't just acquiring military hardware. India was sending a strategic message. The message was clear: India would not allow itself to be confined by the binary power dynamics of global geopolitics. This move triggered a complex balancing act that tested India’s defence autonomy in the face of U.S. legislation, specifically the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Why the S-400 Was Worth the Risk India finds itself in a volatile neighborhood. China flexes its military muscle to the north. Pakistan…