India, US ink key pact, deepen strategic trust
2+2 TALKS Comcasa signed; dialogue on Russia, Iran sanctions to continue
India and the US signed a foundational defence partnership agreement on Thursday, signalling the deepening of a relationship that has warmed over the past few months, with the Americans previously allowing India to import key defence equipment and technologies, even creating a mechanism for a waiver for the country from a law that effectively prohibits arms imports from Russia, and the two countries moving closer to a rapprochement on the trade front.
India and the US signed a foundational defence partnership agreement on Thursday, signalling the deepening of a relationship that has warmed over the past few months, with the Americans previously allowing India to import key defence equipment and technologies, even creating a mechanism for a waiver for the country from a law that effectively prohibits arms imports from Russia, and the two countries moving closer to a rapprochement on the trade front.
The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (Comcasa) was signed by India and the United States on Thursday at the inaugural two-plus-two dialogue between their foreign and defence ministers. The two countries also agreed on several other measures to step up defence and security ties.Comcasa, delayed for years as New Delhi bargained hard for getting its concerns addressed before inking the sensitive pact that would effectively mean opening up its military communications network to the US military, comes into force with immediate effect and will be valid for 10 years.
The India-specific Comcasa has in-built safeguards to secure India’s national interests with complete access to equipment to make sure there is no disruption, said two officials familiar with the details of the agreement.
One of the officials cited above said on condition of anonymity that it was an enabling agreement anddid not commit India to future military acquisitions from the US. He also added that Indian military data could not be shared by the US with a third party without consent.
The agreement was signed after external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj and defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman held three sessions of talks with their US counterparts, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and defence secretary Jim Mattis.
Comcasa aims to give a legal framework for the transfer of highly sensitive communication security equipment from the US to India that will streamline and facilitate interoperability between their armed forces. It is one of the three foundational agreements for a seamless military relationship between the two sides. India had signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in August 2016. Customised for India again, this agreement gives the two countries access to named military infrastructure in the other country for logistics support, including refuelling.
The third agreement is the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA), which, once signed, will allow the US to share sensitive data with India. Work is yet to begin on the third agreement.