Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement
- India and the U.S. have signed a logistics support agreement
- Objective: It would make easier for militaries of both countries to share each other’s facilities like refuelling and birthing facilities
- Background: The US has been pressing New Delhi to sign the agreement for the last 10 years
- Provisions:
- It will provide access to supplies, spare parts and services from each other’s land facilities, air bases and ports, which can then be reimbursed
- It also provides a framework that governs the exchange of logistics support, supplies and services
- It does not provide automatic access to the use of military bases
- But American troops can’t be stationed on Indian soil.
- New Maritime Security Dialogue
- Logistical support with regard to weapons facilities would involve non-offensive military equipment
- This support will involve cashless transactions on a reciprocal basis
- Impact: This would move India closer to the US as a strategic partner
- Why now?
- Non Alignment stance of India
- Agreement is considered too intrusive for a non-aligned nation
- China is vary of India’s move and watching the development closely.
LEMOA is one of the three foundational agreements that guide US high technology cooperation in defence sector with other countries. Other two are
- Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and
- Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA).
What is CISMOA?
- CISMOA will allow the US to supply India with its propriety encrypted communications equipment and systems. Thus, it will allow to secure peacetime and wartime communication between high-level military leaders on both sides.
- CISMOA will also extend this capability to Indian and US military assets, including aircraft and ships.
- So far US has blocked sale of some of its advanced technologies and sensitive equipment to India on account of non-signing this agreement.
What is BECA? BECA would facilitate exchange of geospatial information between India and US for both military and civilian use.
Source:
- RS TV: The Big Picture – Indo-US Strategic ties: Where is it Heading? https://youtu.be/9aldfP4zvag?list=PLVOgwA_DiGzoqQsGjmamTu6f453RWpm_I