India and the US sign the key military deal, representing nearer ties
India and the US signed a key defence deal before the end of last month in a move seen as a last-dump push by the Trump organization to score a foreign policy achievement simply seven days before the US elections.
Specialists say the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation (BECA) deal will carry the two nations closer to one another and assist them with countering China.
The deal, reported during the bi-annual so-called “two plus two” meeting in New Delhi, will give Indian military access to information that are viewed as fundamental for the firing of rockets, armed drones and different focuses with accuracy.
Both the nations, represented by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary Mark Esper and their Indian partners Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Rajnath Singh individually, named the partnership huge.
“At a time when it is particularly important to uphold a rules-based international order, the ability of India and the US to work closely in defence and foreign policy has a larger resonance,” External Affairs Minister Jaishankar said at the Ministerial Dialogue in New Delhi.
“Together, we can make a real difference when it comes to regional and global challenges, whether it is in respecting territorial integrity, promoting maritime domain awareness, countering terrorism or ensuring prosperity.”
“The BECA deal is a game-changer. It is the last of the foundational defence agreements to be signed between the US and India, and one that India had long resisted signing,” said Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia programme at the US-based Wilson Center.
India has long attempted to balance its relations with the US and China, with whom it shares a 3,500km-long (2,100 miles).
Yet, India’s military standoff in June on its western border with China appears to have pushed New Delhi towards the US, which has been attempting to support partners against an increasingly assertive China.
At least 20 Indian warriors were killed in the deadliest border standoff in almost 50 years. A great many military personnel keep on staying at the disputed border close to Ladakh region.
“The US will stand with the people of India as they confront threats to their sovereignty and to their liberty,” Pompeo told reporters in New Delhi.
Vivek Gupta is a writer for timesofchennai.com. Writing has always been his passion. He joined Times of Chennai after getting a Master’s Degree in creative writing at University in Tamil Nadu. He writes some articles, essays. Now he connecting the Times of Chennai.
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