Overturning years of resistance, the Narendra Modi government has agreed to sign a logistics support agreement that would enable automatic clearances for USA warships and military aircrafts to get fuel, food or other assistance while transiting through India.
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Reacting guardedly to the landmark Indo-US logistics exchange agreement, China today said India pursues an independent foreign policy but hinted it might raise the issue during Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar’s visit here next week.
LEMOA is a tweaked version of LSA which facilitates the provision of logistical support, supplies and services between the USA military and the armed forces of partner countries on a reimbursable basis, and provides a framework that governs the exchange of logistics support, supplies and services.
“In this context, Secretary Carter and I agreed, in principle, to conclude a Logistic Exchange Memorandum of Agreement in the coming months”, Parrikar said.
But after years of delays, the two sides said an agreement was in hand, although not yet ready for signing. They also agreed to launch a bilateral Maritime Security Dialogue, co-chaired by officials at the joint secretary/assistant secretary-level of the Indian Ministries of Defence and External Affairs and the U.S. Departments of Defense and State.
During their meeting, the prime minister and Carter set priorities to further implement the Joint Strategic Vision for the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean Regions, reflecting the growing strategic convergence between the US rebalance to the Asia-Pacific region and India’s “Act East”, the press secretary said.
Carter said some of the developing military technology agreements are “unique to India” and based on “complete trust”.
He said, “We have agreed on fine points”.
The two sides also announced finalisation of four government-to-government project agreements in the area of science and technology cooperation: Atmospheric Sciences for High Energy Lasers, Cognitive Tools for Target Detection, Small Intelligent Unmanned Aerial Systems, and Blast and Blunt Traumatic Brain Injury.
“Both countries will also deepen cooperation in Maritime Domain Awareness by finalizing a “White Shipping” Agreement”, he added. Parrikar said, “We have made a decision to take forward discussions under DTTI more aggressively on key areas such as jet engine technology. We will also continue our very useful and productive discussions on cooperation… on aircraft carriers”, Parrikar said.
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The two sides “reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and over flight throughout the region, including in the South China Sea”, read the statement.
