India-US partnership gets stronger than ever as they sign defense, BECA agreement

On Tuesday, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and Defense Minister Mark Esper approached PM Narendra Modi to communicate the US government’s interest in reinforcing stronger ties with India. 

Pompeo and Esper arrived in India on Monday for having crucial discussions pointed toward expanding the defense and security ties as well as discussing regional and international issues concerning China and the growing coronavirus pandemic.

The milestone defense agreement was marked following discussions between India’s defense minister Rajnath Singh and the United States Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. The signing of the long-awaited Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) on Tuesday will permit the two nations to share strategic data concerning satellite and sensor information. 

The military agreement was marked during the third round of the 2+2 ministerial talks. The two agreements marked a close friendship between the two nations.

In a joint statement after the marking, Singh described it as a big move. He also reaffirmed India’s commitment to harmony and security in the Indo-Pacific area. India-US defense cooperation is going forward and we have identified outlines for joint advancement of defense equipment.” 

The US and India have already consented to three key deals — General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) in 2002, the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016, and the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) in 2018. These included areas of security and military data, military information, communication, and logistics.

Strongly criticizing China, Mike Pompeo accused that the Covid pandemic originated from Wuhan has set off a broad conversation about the Chinese Communist Party. In the backdrop of India’s army standoff with the Chinese soldiers at the border of Ladakh, he also communicated that the US will support India in its efforts to “defend its autonomy”.

After visiting the National War Memorial in Delhi, Pompeo offered respect to the soldiers who gave their lives in the Galwan Valley. Pompeo expressed that the US will support India in its endeavors to protect its liberty and sovereignty… Our countries are focused on cooperating into extending our associations across numerous fronts. 

” I’m happy to state that India and the US are finding a way to fortify collaboration against all dangers and not simply those presented by the CCP,” Pompeo added. 

The BECA agreement would permit India and the US to share military data, advanced satellite and geological information, for example, nautical and aeronautical charts and maps, and geophysical, geodetic, geomagnetic, and gravity information. 

While, on Wednesday, China responded strongly to US secretary Mike Pompeo’s comments on the Chinese government and support India, calling the comments as instigating and spoiling China’s relations with other nations”.

Moreover, defining the India-China border issue as a bilateral matter. The Chinese consulate stated that there is “no space for an outsider to intercede” in the issue.