Observing that India attaches high importance to national security, the editorial said, “It feels it is an urgent task because its defence levels are a necessary condition of being a major power, rather than out of a sense of crisis that requires an intimacy to the U.S.”.
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India and the United States on Monday signed an agreement to use each other’s land, air and naval bases for fix and resupply, taking a step toward building defence ties as they seek to counter the growing maritime assertiveness of China.
The agreement, viewed as part of the Obama administration’s Pivot to Asia strategy, was criticised by a leading Chinese state-run daily, which warned that New Delhi may irritate Beijing if it “joins the USA alliance system”.
It further expressed serious concern over jeopardising India’s national, geo global and strategic interests by signing of LEMOA. However, some experts have welcomed the “long delayed” agreement that has been in discussions since 2004.
LEMOA is one of the four foundational agreements that the United States pursues with its defence partners. The two leaders had agreed on the memorandum in principle when they last met in India in April 2016.
The two countries also signed two other pacts that would allow for secure communications and the exchange of nautical and other data. India, through its Act East initiative, has turned its attention to diplomacy in East Asia.
The United State’s has reaffirmed its support for India’s membership in the Nuclear Suppliers Group during Indian defence minister’s visit to Pentagon here on Monday.
“Such an agreement was first made by the United States in 2003 when the United States invaded Iraq”.
“It (LEMOA) doesn’t have anything to do with the setting up of base”.
“So let me get this logistic agreement in the public domain properly and explain to the people”.
The deal allows the USA and Indian navies to have a less hard time supporting each other in combined operations and exercises and Parrikar said when supplying humanitarian assistance.
The Indian Defence Ministry also took to Twitter to dispel fears regarding the agreement. The armed forces of the two countries can now use each other’s assets and bases for fix and replenishment of supplies a “reimbursable basis” – i.e, they can pay later for the use of facilities.
Reciprocal logistic support would be used exclusively during authorized port visits, joint exercises, joint training, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts, government added.
Bihar’s ruling JD (U) on Wednesday strongly condemned the signing of Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) between India and the USA, allowing the American armed forces to access and use the bases in India. Addressing a joint press conference with Mr Carter, Mr Parrikar said that this is not an agreement to set up bases but to facilitate logistical support between the two militaries. “It doesn’t by itself create those agreements”, Carter said.
Both leaders also discussed India’s “Major Defence Partner” designation, which was announced during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Washington in June. “This does not imply we become a U.S. military ally”.
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Chinese state media has said that any attempt by Delhi to get closer to the USA could “irritate” China and Pakistan, or even Russian Federation.
