India United States Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement
Recently, during the visit of U.S. Defence Secretary Ash Carter’s three-day visit, India and the U.S. have agreed “in principle” on a Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). India and the US have been negotiating the signing of Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) since 2004. This agreement would have far reaching implications for India’s military posture. It would enable both militaries to share each other’s facilities.
What is LEMOA?
LEMOA is a tweaked version of Logistics Support Agreement (LSA). This agreement will facilitate the provision of logistical support, supplies and services between the US military and the armed forces of its partner countries.
If signed, American aircraft and warships will have access to Indian military bases and vice versa for logistical purposes such as re-fuelling, repair etc.
What are the other areas where the countries propose to cooperate?
The two countries have announced many initiatives to strengthen the growing strategic partnership. Defence cooperation has been the most visible manifestation of the evolving relationship between India and US. The US has become the largest arms supplier to India over last 4 years. Since 2007, it has bagged Indian arms contracts worth over $14 billion. India and the US hold regular military exercises every year.
Besides LEMOA, the other two foundational agreements are Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA). The CISMOA and BECA would enable technology transfer and seamless communication between the military systems of the two countries. The US uses these three foundational agreements to have high technology cooperation with other countries.
Both the countries have also agreed to set up new Maritime Security Dialogue involving officials from Defence and External Affairs Ministries of the two countries. Both countries have also decided to improve maritime domain awareness by finalizing a ‘White Shipping’ Agreement. White-shipping refers to commercial shipping information about movement of cargo ships. Both countries have also underlined the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and over-flight throughout the region, including “in the South China Sea.”
Why LEMOA was opposed by UPA?
Talks to sign these agreements did not progress much under the UPA since it was felt that the agreements would compromise India’s traditional strategic autonomy and would enable US troops to have basing rights in India. These agreements were also seen as a compromise on India’s nonaligned stance. Also, the UPA government was way too cautious about the sensitivities of Russia and China while moving closer to the U.S.
