In a positive development, the defence logistics pact or the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) between India and the US has come close to reality, as both the sides finalizing the pact during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit. In the next step, the pact requires approval of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and once approved it won’t require Defence Minister’s presence and can be signed at a junior official levels.
Pact for LEMOA, which entails sharing of each other’s military bases, defence supplies, army vessels and aircraft on an operational basis during peace time and not during conflicts, was The pact was agreed in-principle during the visit to US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter to India in April. It will help the Indian defence forces during natural disasters, peacekeeping and rescue operations and terrorist attacks.
The LEMOA, which is a tweaked version of the US’ Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) facilitating the provision of logistical support, supplies and services between the US military and the armed forces of partner countries, is one of the three defence foundational pacts that America is pushing India to sign in order to boost defence ties between both countries. Obama administration is pushing for other two pacts which are Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum Agreement (CISMOA) and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA). However, it will not be possible to conclude the negotiations on the remaining two pacts before the Obama administration exits office.