International Relations
India-US Mini '2+2' Talks
- 14 Jan 2019
- 3 min read
India and the U.S. have reviewed the progress of Industrial Security Annex (ISA) and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial Cooperation (BECA) agreements during the recent ‘2+2’ intercession meeting.
- The agreements are significant in the context of Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA).
- Under ARIA, around $1.5 billion in funding will be channeled into improving US ties with partners in the Asian region in the next five years. Though the Act frames a strategy for the US in Asia, it singles out India as an important military partner.
- The inaugural 2+2 dialogue between India and U.S. was held last September.
Industrial Security Annex (ISA)
- ISA agreement allows sharing of classified information from the US government and US companies with the Indian private sector.
- Till now, sharing of information was limited to the Indian government and the defence public sector undertakings.
- The ISA will give a boost to the Indian private sector looking for a greater role in defence manufacturing.
“Four Foundational Agreements” between the US and its Partners
- General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA)
- GSOMIA allows militaries to share the intelligence gathered by them.
- Signed by India in 2002.
- Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA)
- LEMOA allows both countries to have access to each other’s designated military facilities for refueling and replenishment.
- Signed by India in 2016.
- Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA)
- COMCASA(Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) is the India specific version of CISMOA.
- Valid for 10 years, COMCASA aims to provide a legal framework for the transfer of highly sensitive communication security equipment from the US to India that will streamline and facilitate interoperability between their armed forces.
- Signed by India in 2018.
- Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA)
- BECA will allow India and US to share geospatial and satellite data with each other.
- India has not signed BECA yet.
