India and the US will hold third 2+2 ministerial meeting in New Delhi on October 26-27.
- The meeting will be held between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark T Esper .
- In the last two meetings, agreements known as LEMOA and COMCASA were signed. Now in third meetings, the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) — a pact with deep military implications, is expected to be signed.
- The Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA) are referred to as the foundational agreements which the U.S. signs with countries with which it has close military ties.
Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA)
- The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement is related to geospatial intelligence, and sharing information on maps and satellite images for defence.
- It will allow India to use the US’s advanced geospatial intelligence and enhance the accuracy of automated systems and weapons like missiles and armed drones.
- It will give access to topographical and aeronautical data and products that will aid navigation and targeting.
- It will provide Indian military systems with a high-quality GPS to navigate and missiles with real-time intelligence to precisely target the adversary.
Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA)
- India and US signed the LEMOA in August 2016.
- It gives access, to both countries, to designated military facilities on either side for the purpose of refuelling and replenishment.
Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA)
- It was signed in September 2018.
- It allows the US to provide India with its encrypted communications equipment and systems so that Indian and US military commanders, aircraft and ships can communicate through secure networks in peace and war.
- It paved the way for transfer of communication security equipment from the US to India to facilitate “interoperability” between their forces .
(Source: IE and TH)
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