New Delhi: India and US signed the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), after the Two Plus Two talks, between Foreign and Defence ministers of the two countries. This agreement will give India easier access to the information regarding adversaries, from the advanced US satellites and other systems. This will provide precise information regarding the enemy targets, to the Indian missiles and fighter jets. This could prove to be a decisive factor. Against this background, the ministers from both the countries expressed satisfaction over this cooperation. At the same time, the US Secretary for Defence, Mark Esper, paid homage to the Indian soldiers, martyred in the Galwan Valley. Esper delivered a stern message to China; he criticised the destabilising Chinese activities.
Many other important agreements, other than the BECA, were signed during the Two Plus Two meeting, between India and the United States, which had become the focus of attention for analysts around the globe. The agreements signed between the two countries, at a time, when the US presidential elections are only a few days away becomes significant. The decisive information needed for Indian security will become available to India with the BECA agreement. This has made China and Pakistan too restless. Defence Minister Raj Nath Singh expressed satisfaction over the progress of the India-US defence cooperation.
India and the United States signed Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 and Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) in 2018. Defence Minister Raj Nath Singh claimed that BECA is the next phase of the series in defence cooperation. Whereas, US Secretary for Defence, Mark Esper, paid homage to the Indian soldiers, martyred in the Galwan Valley. Esper indicated that China was responsible for the tension, saying that China caused instability in the region. At the same time, US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, asserted that in case of a conflict between India and China, the United States would stand firmly, behind India. Pompeo retorted that there is no democracy in the communist party, ruling in China and added that the India-US cooperation is standing on the strong foundation of democracy.
Secretary of State, Pompeo, expressed confidence that the QUAD cooperation established by India and the United States, with Australia and Japan, will play an important role in establishing stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Pompeo thanked India for including Australia in the Malabar Naval Exercises between India, the United States and Japan. Pompeo also expressed confidence that this India-US cooperation will become stronger and more comprehensive in the future. After the discussions, Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo and Secretary for Defence, Mark Esper, met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As per reports, the US Secretary for Defence held talks even with National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval.
China is felting the heat of the India-US cooperation and it has postponed talks with India, regarding the dispute over the LAC in Ladakh. The Chinese media were claiming even before the Two Plus Two talks that the cooperation between India and the United States is against China. At the same time, the Global Times had expressed its restlessness, saying that this cooperation will not be successful. But, China is visibly perturbed due to the developing India-US cooperation. The pressure on China increased further, as establishing an international level, the supply chain in India, was also discussed during the Two Plus Two talks.
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US and India will sign BECA
