Army Chief Gen. Bipin Rawat says ‘our foreign policy is free’

“We choose what is important for us,” he says.

New Delhi: Army chief Bipin Singh Rawat during a dinner hosted in the honour of the winners of National Sports and Adventure Awards, in New Delhi, Tuesday, Sep 25, 2018. (PTI Photo/Manvender Vashist) (PTI9_26_2018_000030B)

As India faces possible U.S. sanctions for the S-400 missile deal with Russia, the Chief of the Army Staff, General Bipin Rawat, on Sunday underscored that India had an “independent foreign policy” and the way forward was to see what was “strategically important for us”.

He was delivering the General K.V. Krishna Rao Memorial lecture at Manekshaw Centre.

Gen. Rawat, who has just returned from a visit to Russia, recalled a question from a Russian naval officer, while addressing a group of officers from various countries.

He said he told the officer, “You can rest assured that while we may be associating with America in getting some technologies from them, we follow an independent policy.”

The Russian officer had pointed out that India was “looking West towards America” and the U.S. which has imposed sanctions on Russia has threatened India with curbs, in case it continues to associate with Russia.

More procurements

In response, Gen. Rawat talked of India’s independent foreign policy, and referred to the S-400 deal as proof for it. Further, he said, India was also looking to procure Kamov helicopters and also getting some space-based systems and technology to enhance India’s own space-based capabilities.

“So there is no end in sight to the manner in which we can cooperate with your country [Russia]. I think that is the way forward, to see what is best for the nation, strategically important for us,” Gen. Rawat said he told the Russian officer.

During his six-day visit to Russia, Gen. Rawat held talks with military officials of that country to enhance bilateral cooperation.

Last week, India and Russia signed a $5.43 bn deal for five S-400 missile systems during the summit meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin.

The U.S. has remained non-committal on whether it would grant India a waiver from sanctions under Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). A State Department spokesperson said there are “strict criteria” for considering a waiver and the waiver is “narrow.”

Gen. Rawat said the Russians were very keen on associating with the Indian Army and defence forces. “Because they do understand that we are a strong Army, capable of standing up for what is right for us, based on our strategic thought process,” he said.

( With PTI inputs)