Table of Contents
The India-U.S. foundational agreement for mutual logistics support, the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), has been fully operationalised over the past few months.
-
- India had concluded the LEMOA in August 2016 in a culmination of a decade of negotiations between the two countries.
- The pact gives both countries access to designated military facilities on either side for the purpose of refuelling and replenishment in primarily four areas — port calls, joint exercises, training and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
- The SOPs include designating the points of contact for the U.S. military to work with, and set up, a common account for payments. -So far, the three services had individual accounts from which payments were being made during military exercises. -The SOPs are applicable to all three services. Each service has a designated LEMOA officer,
FOUNDATIONAL AGREEMENTS
- These are the agreements that the U.S. signs with countries with which it has close military ties.
- India had signed only three of these four agreements –
- General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) in 2002
- Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016
- Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) in 2018
- The last one remaining is the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA).
BENEFITS TO INDIA
- –Will aid operations to rescue stranded Indians in conflict zones
- –will also aid in disaster relief
- Will also enhance the military capability to protect Indian economic interest
BENEFITS TO USA
- Benefits by provision of refueling facility for its planes, ships, etc .
- As India and the UNITED STATES explore plans for maritime cooperation in asia –pacific , LEMOA is going to add value.
WhatsApp