At a time when India is coming closer to the US in defense ties, business relationships, and geopolitical partnerships, Washington has cracked the whip on its partner in the Asian continent. In a step that may have far-reaching consequences, the US has slapped sanctions on 19 Indian firms and two citizens.

According to a statement issued by the State Department,  the US slapped sanctions on Wednesday on about 400 companies and individuals from Russia, China, India, Hong Kong, the UAE, Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, and Switzerland.

US Sends Strong Signals

Talking to news agency Reuters, a spokesperson for the State Department said the sanctions have been imposed to send a serious message to both the governments and the private sectors of the countries concerned that the U.S. government is committed to countering the evasion of the sanctions imposed against Russia and to continue putting pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine.

He also said that the action was the most concerted push so far against third-country evasion. He added that the sanctions included those on dozens of Chinese, Hong Kong, and Indian companies, the most from those countries to be hit in one package so far.

In the latest move, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on 274 entities. While the Commerce Department added 40 companies and research institutions to a trade restriction list, the State Department added more than 120 entities to the list over their alleged support of the Russian military.