“If India hastily joins the USA alliance system, it may irritate China, Pakistan or even Russian Federation”, the Global Times said in an editorial. “That initiative grasps hands with Prime Minister Modi’s Make in India campaign”, he said.
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The signing of the logistics agreement indicates the priority Mr Modi’s government places on a closer defence relationship with the U.S., said Mr Benjamin Schwartz, who until past year, was the India country director at the Pentagon.
The agreement has been under discussion between two sides since 2004.
“When they do agree it makes all much more smoother”, he said.
In April, the Congress had raised concerns over the government’s decision to enter into a Logistic Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA).
A LEMOA agreement allows for the purchase by establishing a value for the purchase and the terms for payment, which could be replacement-in-kind or an equal-value exchange, Carter said.
“It raises a genuine and grave apprehension regarding India being unwarrantedly drawn into an operation military design in Asia-Pacific region and Middle-East”.
The debate over the logistics agreement had served as a vehicle for the distrust some of India’s political class has towards the United States, said Shane Mason, a research associate at the Stimson Center.
Carter said that the agreement is “fully mutual”, with neither nation obligated to do anything for the other, “operating together when we choose to”.
It does not entail setting up military bases. “It was long overdue, and will provide a framework for logistics support”, Behera told IANS.
The Indian Defence Ministry also took to Twitter to dispel fears regarding the agreement.
“It will be more useful in case of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief”. It added that LEMOA does not create any obligations on either party to carry out any joint activity, nor does it provide for the establishment of any bases or basing arrangements.
Visiting US Secretary of State John Kerry began holding talks with India’s top leaders Tuesday, after the world’s two largest democracies signed an agreement strengthening their defence ties.
Acknowledging India’s positive contributions to regional security and stability, including in matters beyond the maritime space, Carter and Parrikar announced their agreement to further consultations in the area, including through the next Maritime Security Dialogue, scheduled later this year.
Launching a veiled attack at Pakistan for the present unrest in Jammu and Kashmir, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that a “small percentage” of population is holding the “majority at ransom” in the Valley. Of the four agreements, General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) was signed in 2002 while the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) was signed on Monday.
Concerns over the agreement were also voiced by political parties in India, especially the Congress party, which expressed concern that India was being needlessly drawn into operational military designs of the USA in the Asia Pacific Region and Middle East. Something that covers the bandwidth of logistic supplies, like water, fuel, food, etc.
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India and United States have already collaborated in the past on these like during the 2004 tsunami relief efforts and in 2015 for the Nepal natural disaster relief work.
