In touch with US, sanctioned firms not in violation of Indian laws: MEA

A day after the US sanctioned 19 Indian entities for supplying dual-use (civilian and military) items to Russia, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the transactions between Russia and the companies were not in violation of Indian laws.

At a media briefing today, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, “Our understanding is that the sanctioned transactions and companies are not in violation of Indian laws.”

“Nevertheless, in keeping with India’s established non-proliferation credentials, we are working with all relevant Indian departments and agencies to sensitise Indian companies to the applicable export-control provisions and also to inform them of new measures being implemented that could impact Indian companies in certain circumstances,” he said.

“We are in touch with the US authorities to clarify issues,” Jaiswal said. The US sanctioned nearly 400 entities and individuals, including 19 from India, for what it called “enabling Russia’s prosecution of its illegal war”.

Jaiswal said, “We have seen reports regarding the US sanctions. India has a robust legal and regulatory framework on strategic trade and non-proliferation controls.”

India, he said, was a member of three key multilateral non-proliferation export-control regimes — the Wassenaar Arrangement, the Australia Group and the Missile Technology Control Regime — and had been effectively implementing relevant UN sanctions and the UN resolution on non-proliferation.

Regular strategic trade and export-control outreach events for Indian industries and stakeholders were being carried out by government agencies, he added.