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What is CAATSA?
The Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act or CAATSA is a United States federal law that imposed sanctions on Iran, North Korea, and Russia. The Bill was passed by the Senate on 27 July 2017, after it passed House 419–3. It was signed into law on August 2, 2017 by President Donald Trump.
Sanctions by the US in the past
Iran: Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Act of 2017
Under this, the US President may impose sanctions against Iran's ballistic missile or weapons of mass destruction programmes, the sale or transfer to Iran of military equipment, and the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and affiliated foreign persons.
The President may put sanctions against persons responsible for violations of internationally recognised human rights committed against individuals in Iran and may temporarily waive the imposition or continuation of sanctions under specified circumstances.
Russia: Countering Russian Influence in Europe and Eurasia Act of 2017
The US President must submit for congressional review certain proposed actions to terminate or waive sanctions with respect to the Russian Federation and may waive specified cyber- and Ukraine-related sanctions.
The Bill also provides sanctions for activities related to cyber security, crude oil projects, financial institutions, corruption, human rights abuses, evasion of sanctions, transactions with Russian defense or intelligence sectors, export pipelines, privatisation of state-owned assets by government officials, and arms transfers to Syria.
North Korea: Korean Interdiction and Modernization of Sanctions Act
In this, the Bill modifies and increases the US President's authority to impose sanctions on persons in violation of certain UNSC resolutions regarding North Korea, while any US financial institutions shall not maintain correspondent accounts used by foreign financial institutions to provide indirect financial services to North Korea.
The Bill provides sanctions against North Korean cargo and shipping, goods produced in whole or part by North Korean convict or forced labour, and foreign persons that employ North Korean forced labourers.
THE CASE AGAINST INDIA
While ignoring the CAATSA, India inked a $5.43 billion deal with Russia to procure four S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile defence systems in October 2018. This led to the US threatening India with sanctions over India's decision.
According to statements made by US officials, the Biden administration is yet to decide whether or not to apply sanctions on India. Over the past few weeks, India has cancelled orders for MiG 29, helicopters, and anti-tank weapons.
A significantly stringent law, in the context of the Ukraine war, the US can authorise the imposition of strict sanctions on countries that buy defence hardware from Russia.