Doval, Pompeo, Esper discuss ways to deepen Indo-US ties
New Delhi, Oct 27: During the meeting of National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval and US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, both sides highlighted the need to build capabilities across all domains.
Pompeo who is on a four nation tour made his first stop in India along with US defence chief, Mike Esper for the 2+2 dialogue. During the discussions, Doval, Pompeo and Esper discussed ways to deepen the relationship between the two countries. Issues relating to regional and global security were also discussed.
The two officials also touched upon the China issue and the military standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. Reports in the US media have said that Pompeo would build support for countries to push the Chinese aggressiveness back.
Pompeo and Esper also sealed the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) at the 2+2 talks with Defence Minister, Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar.
India and the United State signed the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) on the sidelines of the 2+2 dialogue. This would enable exchange of geospatial information between the two countries. It would also enhance operational efficiency of the defence platforms of the United States that are being operated in India.
Explained: Importance of the landmark Indo-US defence pact BECA
Sources tell OneIndia that both sides discussed an agreement on the maritime domain awareness cooperation. This pact would institutionalise sharing of information bilaterally on the potential sea borne security threats. It is an important move as it would also help in keeping a close watch on the activities by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy.
The BECA would also pave the way for sharing of maps, charts, imagery and other geospatial information and data. This would include geodetic, geophysical, geomagnetic and gravity data.
The first pact that India had signed with the US was the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA). The pact signed in 2016 made it obligatory for both India and the US to support each other's aircraft, ships, personnel with logistics, spares and fuel.
The
BECA
will
be
the
last
of
the
four
foundational
pacts.
Washington
had
promised
India
that
these
would
make
it
easier
for
India
access
advanced
military
technologies
from
the
US.
This
had
in
fact
paved
the
way
for
better
defence
partnerships
between
the
two
nations.
India
and
the
US
had
also
signed
the
Communications
Compatibility
and
Security
Agreement
in
2018.
This
facilitated
India's
access
to
advanced
defence
systems
of
the
US.
Due
to
this
India
was
allowed
optimally
to
use
existing
military
hardware
sourced
from
the
US.
The
Industrial
Security
Annexe
was
signed
in
2019
to
be
added
to
the
existing
General
Security
of
Military
Information
Agreement.
The
ISA
provided
a
framework
for
exchange
and
protection
of
classified
military
information
between
India
and
the
US.
According
to
officials,
BECA,
which
is
the
last
of
four
foundational
agreements
for
boosting
defence
ties,
will
be
signed
during
the
third
edition
of
the
2+2
dialogue
between
the
two
countries
on
Tuesday.
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Ahead
of
the
Tuesday's
dialogue,
both
Singh
and
External
Affairs
Minister
S
Jaishankar
held
separate
talks
with
their
US
counterparts.
In
a
tweet,
Esper
said
the
partnership
of
"our
two
great
nations
is
vital
to
peace
and
stability
in
the
Indo-Pacific."
On the meeting between Jaishankar and Pompeo, official sources said they discussed "shared concerns and interests" including stability and security in Asia as well as the situation in the Indo-Pacific region.