Why LEMOA will take Indo-US defence partnership to a new level

In a significant move on August 19, India’s Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and US Defence secretary Carter agreed “in principle” on a Logistics Exchange Memorandum Of Agreement (LEMOA) announced jointly in Washington. This landmark step will allow both militaries to share each other’s facilities and support maintenance of supplies. LEMOA would establish basic terms, conditions and procedures for reciprocal provisions. Logistic services would include supplies of food, water, accommodation, transportation, petroleum, oils, lubricants, clothing, communication services, medical services, storage services, training services, spare parts and components, repair and maintenance services, calibration services and port services. These will be provided during pre-planned joint training or exercises, transit, and during humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts. Other contingencies could be evolved jointly with mutual consent. The facilities and services will be duly paid for by either side. Facilities are transitory in nature and there is no provision for permanent basing. While the agreement makes easier operating together when we choose to, but there are many things the two governments would have to agree on a case by case basis. 

The two sides are equal partners. LEMOA allows purchase of services and facilities by establishing a value for the purchase and the terms for payment, which could be replacement-in-kind or an equal-value exchange. Undoubtedly the agreement will greatly help the two sides operationally and improve response time during crisis or disaster management. It is bound to improve joint operability of the Indo-US Armed Forces. Some see it as a step of increased closeness of the militaries and strengthen ability to counter the growing maritime assertiveness of China. As per the agreement, now American aircraft and warships will be able to access Indian military bases and vice versa for refuelling, repair and other logistical purposes. The pact will surely promote trade opportunities and innovative technologies. 

The agreement has been under discussion between two sides since 2004. UPA Government had been opposing LEMOA and two other agreements, Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum Agreement (CISMOA) and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation (BECA). The perceived fear was that it could de-facto clear setting up of American bases in India and dilute India’s non-aligned status. There were also concerns of reactions from the international community. Parrikar and Carter have met six times in the last one year and ironed out issues. It is now clear that the agreement does not create any obligations on either party. It does not provide for the establishment of any bases or basing of US troops in India. Besides LEMOA, the two sides announced initiatives to strengthen the growing strategic partnership. The final LEMOA document will be ready in a month. It will certainly make it more routine and automatic for two sides to operate together. The UPA government was also cautious about the sensitivities of both Russia and China, even though India was moving closer towards the US. However, under PM Modi, New Delhi has been taking firm steps, indicating its willingness to forge a closer strategic relationship with Washington. The two countries also agreed to set up a new Maritime Security Dialogue between officials of Defence and External Affairs Ministries and conclude an agreement to improve maritime domain awareness including sharing of civil shipping information.
 
The joint statement also reiterated the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and over-flight throughout the region, including the ‘South China Sea’. It was decided to start Navy-to-Navy discussions on submarine safety and anti-submarine warfare. The Chinese state media downplayed the signing of the agreement as a routine bilateral event but warned that India's attempts to join US alliance could ‘irritate’ China, Pakistan or even Russia and have implications. It further warned that India may lose strategic independence if it leans towards the US. There are others who believe this pact shifts India away from its Cold war ally Russia toward a new alliance with the US. Referring to PM Modi’s comments on Balochistan and PoK, the Chinese paper Global Times said India was losing patience and taking a hard-line approach. India continues to believe that it is a Win-Win agreement and India will get benefits from American international support and latest technologies in the long run.