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NEW DELHI: India and the United States will sign ‘Basic Exchange and Cooperation Military Agreement’ on sharing of satellite data during the current visit by U. S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper for deepening strategic ties.
According to the Indian defence ministry, the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement on Geospatial Cooperation (BECA) will permit India access to topographical, nautical and aeronautical data for better accuracy of weapons like missiles and drones.
Esper and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo landed in New Delhi for a top-level security dialogue on Tuesday, seen as part of efforts to counter China’s growing assertiveness in the region.
“India is delighted to host the US Secretary of Defence, Dr. Mark Esper. Our talks today were fruitful, aimed at further deepening defence cooperation in a wide range of areas. Today’s discussions will add new vigour to India-US defence relations & mutual cooperation @EsperDoD,” the Indian defence ministry tweeted.
India is delighted to host the US Secretary of Defence, Dr. Mark Esper. Our talks today were fruitful, aimed at further deepening defence cooperation in a wide range of areas.
Today’s discussions will add new vigour to India-US defence relations & mutual cooperation. @EsperDoD pic.twitter.com/MMk11GkSZ1
— Rajnath Singh (मोदी का परिवार) (@rajnathsingh) October 26, 2020
“The bilateral meeting between the US Secretary of Defence, Dr Mark Esper and Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh has started at South Block in New Delhi, it said.
The bilateral meeting between the US Secretary of Defence, Dr Mark Esper and Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh has started at South Block in New Delhi. pic.twitter.com/AzqTwdxLR4
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) October 26, 2020
The agreement to share this data – BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement) – is the third and final “foundational” understanding the US has with close international partners. The two countries have already signed agreements to exchange military logistics and enable secure communications.
In a statement released on Monday, the government said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his American counterpart, Mr Esper, expressed satisfaction that BECA would be signed during this visit and also at the close engagements between the armed forces of the two countries.
They also reviewed bilateral defence spanning military-to-military cooperation, secure communications systems and information sharing, and also discussed potential new areas of cooperation.
