The United States recently announced sanctions against 19 Indian companies and individuals, accusing them of sending goods and parts to Russia that allegedly help its military. This move is part of a larger push by the U.S. to stop countries from selling supplies that Russia might use in its war with Ukraine. Alongside the Indian companies, hundreds of other firms from different countries are also facing sanctions.
In its announcement, the U.S. State Department named two major Indian firms, Ascend Aviation and Mask Trans, which allegedly provided aircraft parts to Russia. The twist? Ascend Aviation is said to have supplied some parts made in the U.S., sparking additional scrutiny. Not only were these companies sanctioned, but their directors were too. In addition to these two, other Indian companies like TSMD Global and Futrevo were accused of supporting Russia’s technology industry.
The U.S. Treasury Department also stepped in, adding sanctions to 14 Indian companies for supplying “dual-use” components, which are parts that can be used for both everyday and military purposes. Among these components were circuit boards, ball bearings, and even milling machines—items that seem simple but could potentially have a big impact if used in military equipment.
In total, the U.S. is sanctioning nearly 400 entities and people across multiple countries, accusing them of sidestepping existing sanctions to supply Russia with critical parts. Most of these sanctioned firms are based in China, while others come from countries like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.
China, in response, has called these sanctions “illegal and unjustifiable.” According to a Chinese spokesperson, while the U.S. accuses other countries of trading with Russia, it continues to send extensive military aid to Ukraine, revealing a double standard. Meanwhile, the Indian government has not yet commented on the sanctions against its companies.
This is not the first time the U.S. has targeted Indian firms in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Earlier this year, three Indian shipping companies were blacklisted by the U.S. for allegedly transporting drones from Iran to Russia. Recently, the US government also placed sanctions on two Indian companies for their alleged involvement in Russia’s massive Arctic LNG 2 project. Moscow, however, insists that it has not used Iranian weapons in the conflict.
These recent sanctions signal rising tensions in global trade as the U.S. tries to curb support for Russia’s military through strict sanctions, which now include key Indian players. But as other countries start to react, the question remains: will these measures actually stop the flow of goods to Russia, or will they deepen divides between nations?
