The US has asked India to “expedite” the talks on concluding two
foundational defence agreements in an effort to strengthen military ties
between both countries even as American aero-defence firms are eyeing the
Indian market to make huge investments under the ‘Make in India’ programme.
The issue was discussed during a telephonic conversation between
the new US Secretary of Defence James Mattis and Minister of Defence Manohar
Parrikar that took place late Wednesday evening, sources told BusinessLine.
US has been asking India to complete the ongoing negotiations on
concluding the two foundational pacts, out of which one has already been
signed. These two pacts are Communication and Information Security Memorandum
of Agreement (CISMOA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA).
So far India has signed only one of out of the three American
defence foundational agreements.
It is called the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement
(LEMOA), which is a tweaked version of the Logistics Services Agreement (LSA).
This was signed in 2016 and it stipulates exchange of logistics support and
supplies.
However, the LEMOA is yet to be implemented by India, which is
causing concern in the US, according to sources.
“It will be helpful if India and US are able to sign all three
foundational agreements otherwise it makes things more challenging. So the
overall feeling is progress should be made in the foundational pacts,” said
Benjamin Schwartz, Director for Aerospace and Defense, US-India Business
Council (USIBC).
The phone-call between both defence heads also assumes
significance as it happened just days before the ‘Aero India’ show starts in
Bengaluru from February 14-18 in which American defence firms are participating
in large numbers, especially the jet makers Boeing and Lockheed Martin, which are
eyeing to sell their fighter planes to the Indian Air Force.
India was
also seeking an assurance from the US that it plans to continue with the
defence deals that were being discussed with the previous Obama administration.
“In their
first conversation, Secretary Mattis committed to build upon the tremendous
progress in bilateral defence cooperation made in recent years, underscoring
the strategic importance of the US-India relationship and India’s role in
advancing global peace and security,” said the Pentagon Press Secretary Jeff
Davis.
Defence
exports from US to India have already reached $15 billion.
US has
recently made the required changes in its export control laws for easier
transfer of technology and defence equipment between both countries thereby
recognising India as a ‘Major Defence Partner’.
Source :- BusinessLine
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