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The United States has warned India against a planned purchase of S-400 surface-to-air missiles from Russia when President Vladimir Putin's visits New Delhi this week, saying such an acquisition would attract sanctions under U.S. law.
India's military wants the missile batteries, both as a deterrent against China and to gain an edge over traditional rival, Pakistan, as they are able to track and shoot down combat aircraft, even stealth planes, at unprecedented ranges.
India and Russia will sign the missile deal, estimated at more than $5 billion, during Putin's visit for annual summit talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi beginnning on Thursday, a Kremlin aide said.
But the United States has warned countries trading with Russia's defence and intelligence sectors they would face automatic sanctions under a sweeping legislation called Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) that President Donald Trump signed into law last August.
Russia is setting records in gas pipeline exports despite U.S. pressure on Europe to reduce imports, and aims to become the world's leading liquefied gas exporter in the next decade thanks to technology it is developing at home.Russian government officials and executives told an industry conference on Wednesday they expect Russia export a record amount of gas this year, potentially exceeding 200 billion cubic metres (bcm) and beating last year's all-time high of 194 bcm.The development comes despite repeated calls by the United States on Europe to diversify its gas imports away from the Kremlin's pipeline monopoly Gazprom, which Washington says is using energy as a tool of intimidation.Gazprom controls 35 percent of the gas market in Europe, larger than any other supplier, and aims to increase its share to 40 percent due to declining European production and the lower cost of extracting gas in Russia.Russian military tests arms to gain experience in Syria"We have been hearing about the reduction in Russian supplies for many years now," Russian energy minister Alexander Novak told the conference. "But in spite of this, Europe keeps increasing Russian gas imports."Novak said Russia could double gas exports by 2030 to meet soaring global demand.That would require Gazprom to build new pipelines to China and Europe, adding some 163 bcm to its exports, while Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports could reach 80-115 million tonnes.That would put Russia on a par with Qatar, the world's largest LNG producer, which plans to expand its capacity to 110 million tonnes by 2024 from 77 million tonnes now.US would destroy banned Russian warheads if necessary: NATO envoyRussia is a fairly modest LNG producer. Its output comes from a Gazprom-led project on Sakhalin island off Russia's Pacific coast, and a project led by private producer Novatek in the Arctic Yamal peninsula."Despite the fact that the United States is reluctant to see Russian gas, some cargoes of LNG from Yamal have reached the United States itself this year," Novak said.Novatek's chief executive, Leonid Mikhelson, said his company had the resources to boost output far above current targets. The company has said it could quadruple output to as much as 80 million tonnes of LNG."We are seeing the birth of a new industry in Russia," said Mikhelson, adding that Novatek has developed technology to liquefy gas.Russia has up to now relied on companies such as French oil major Total to build new plants and provide technology.U.S. and European sanctions on Moscow over its actions in Ukraine have made exports of technology to Russia and the funding of projects, such as Novatek's Yamal, challenging.The United States also aims to become a large LNG exporter through its booming shale gas industry, but Mikhelson and Gazprom's deputy chief executive Alexander Medvedev said Russian gas would still be cheaper in Europe."As the Russian saying goes - they try to scare us but we are not afraid," Medvedev told the conference.He added Europe may need as much as 100 bcm of new gas imports by 2030 because its own production is falling. 
Russian gas exports to boom despite US pressure and rivalry
The law is designed to punish Putin for the 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, involvement in the Syrian civil war and meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
"We urge all of our allies and partners to forgo transactions with Russia that would trigger sanctions under the CAATSA," a U.S. State Department representative said.
"The administration has indicated that a focus area for the implementation of CAATSA Section 231 is new or qualitative upgrades in capability – including the S-400 air and missile defense system."
Last month, the United States imposed sanctions on China's military for its purchase of combat fighters as well as the S-400 missile system it bought from Russia this year.
Figures show that Russian forces have tested several new weapon systems in Syria -- in the first direct clashes outside its borders in seven years.Russia intervened in the conflict in September 2015, backing the Bashar al-Assad regime on the pretext of fighting Daesh.The regime and its allies now control more than half of the country -- 109,136 square kilometers (42,137 square miles) of the 185,180 square kilometers (71,498 square miles) -- with two Russian military bases at the port city of Tartus and the northeastern city of Hmeimim.According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, a total of 34 warplanes and 16 helicopters at Hmeimim airbase actively took part in military operations across Syria under the service of 63,012 military personnel, of which 25,738 are officers and 434 generals.US would destroy banned Russian warheads if necessary: NATO envoyRussian jets carried out more than 39,000 airstrikes to support the regime and allies. Its warships were deployed 189 times.Russian S-300 and S-400 missile defense systems were also stationed across Syria, particularly in the vicinity of Russian bases.According to Kremlin figures, the war in Syria has cost more than $4 billion and resulted in 112 Russian casualties. Thirty-nine servicemen were killed when the An-26 transport aircraft crashed and 15 when the Il-20 warplane was downed.Russia also lost eight planes, seven helicopters and several armored vehicles.Germany to stop reconnaissance missions over Iraq, SyriaRussia tested 231 different newly-developed or modern arms systems, including the Tu-160 strategic bomber plane, the X-101 air-to-surface cruise missile, the modernized T-90 tank, the Su-57 and Su-35 fighter planes, Mi-28H helicopter, various short and intermediate range surface-to-air missiles and the Pantsir-S anti-aircraft artillery system.The Syrian war also saw the first-ever use of Russian long range naval cruise missiles, fired from warships in the Caspian Sea to targets within Syria.Russian President Vladimir Putin illustrated this point during a televised question and answer session on June 8, 2018.“The use of our armed forces in the battlefield is a unique experience, a unique tool by which to improve our armed forces. No amount of military exercises could compare with the use of force in combat conditions.”Number of US diplomats doubled in Syria: Pentagon chiefTime to clear YPG terrorists from Syria's Manbij and leave city to civilians: FM
Russian military tests arms to gain experience in Syria
The United States is also concerned about NATO ally Turkey’s decision to buy the Russian missile system, seeing it as incompatible with the alliance systems.
Modi's government, caught in the U.S.-Russia crossfire, hopes the Trump administration will give it a pass on the proposed arms transfer from Russia, officials in New Delhi said.
Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told reporters India was closing in on the deal to buy the air defence system from Russia, with which it has long-standing military ties.
"Negotiation on S-400 air defence systems has been on for a long while and it is at a stage where it can be finalised," Sitharaman said last week. "We have a big legacy of buying defence equipment from Russia."
Russia must halt its covert development of a banned cruise missile system or the United States will seek to destroy it before it becomes operational, Washington's envoy to NATO said on Tuesday.The United States believes Russia is developing a ground-launched system in breach of a Cold War treaty that could allow Russia to launch a nuclear strike on Europe at short notice, but Moscow has consistently denied any such violation.U.S. ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison said Washington remained committed to a diplomat solution but was prepared to consider a military strike if Russian development of the medium-range system continued."At that point, we would be looking at the capability to take out a (Russian) missile that could hit any of our countries," she told a news conference. Number of US diplomats doubled in Syria: Pentagon chiefGermany to stop reconnaissance missions over Iraq, SyriaNumber of US diplomats doubled in Syria: Pentagon chief
US would destroy banned Russian warheads if necessary: NATO envoy
More than 80 percent of India's military equipment was of Soviet origin during the days of the Cold War, but since its breakup New Delhi has diversified its weaponry.
The United States is one of its top arms suppliers, closing $15 billion worth of deals in just the last decade.
U.S. firms Lockheed Martin and Boeing lead the race to sell the Indian military hundreds of aircraft to replace its ageing Russian MiG planes.
The Modi government hopes the Trump administration will not disrupt burgeoning defence ties with the world's biggest arm importer by levying sanctions the U.S. Congress has sought.
The Trump administration faced competing pressures from Congress pursuing a hard line on Russia, said Jeff Smith, a specialist on South Asia at the Heritage Foundation.
"The administration was critical of the CAATSA and fought hard for a national security waiver at the cabinet secretary level but was denied by Congress," he said.
"The administration is not only trying to navigate competing geopolitical interests but relatively stringent conditions imposed by a Congress determined to tie its hands on Russia policy."