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Cabinet to vet defence logistics pact with US
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 14
More than a month after India and the US agreed in principle on a proposal to share military logistics, the Union Cabinet will now consider the draft of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA).
Sources said the draft had been sent for comments to the ministries concerned.
While the US has been pressing for a quicker decision, India has clarified its stand that the system mandates an inter-ministerial consultation and even addressing suggestions made by other ministries before inking LEMOA, the sources said.
The agreement to conclude LEMOA was announced on April 12 when Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter met in New Delhi.
In the Rajya Sabha on May 10, Parrikar said: “The proposed agreement envisages a framework for logistic support for activities such as joint exercises, training or humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, on a case-by-case basis, on mutual consent of both countries.” On April 12, Parrikar had said: “It would take a few weeks for the draft to be ready. We have agreed on the finer points. Let’s wait for the draft.”
Though Parrikar had clarified that LEMOA, “does not entail positioning of US troops in its soil”, India has further clarified to the US that the “rest and recuperation” facilities may not be available for the US troops whose ships may come to seek fuel, spares or supplies at Indian ports.
India is also not comfortable at branding any India-US agreement as “foundational”. In the past, US ships have re-fuelled and re-stocked at Indian ports, but the matter used to be put on a case-to-case basis, LEMOA would make certain facilities automatic. India will have the discretion of withdrawing in case it feels the US had gone to war with a country which it sees as a “friend”.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/story/237073.html
Ajay Banerjee
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, May 14
More than a month after India and the US agreed in principle on a proposal to share military logistics, the Union Cabinet will now consider the draft of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA).
Sources said the draft had been sent for comments to the ministries concerned.
While the US has been pressing for a quicker decision, India has clarified its stand that the system mandates an inter-ministerial consultation and even addressing suggestions made by other ministries before inking LEMOA, the sources said.
The agreement to conclude LEMOA was announced on April 12 when Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter met in New Delhi.
In the Rajya Sabha on May 10, Parrikar said: “The proposed agreement envisages a framework for logistic support for activities such as joint exercises, training or humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, on a case-by-case basis, on mutual consent of both countries.” On April 12, Parrikar had said: “It would take a few weeks for the draft to be ready. We have agreed on the finer points. Let’s wait for the draft.”
Though Parrikar had clarified that LEMOA, “does not entail positioning of US troops in its soil”, India has further clarified to the US that the “rest and recuperation” facilities may not be available for the US troops whose ships may come to seek fuel, spares or supplies at Indian ports.
India is also not comfortable at branding any India-US agreement as “foundational”. In the past, US ships have re-fuelled and re-stocked at Indian ports, but the matter used to be put on a case-to-case basis, LEMOA would make certain facilities automatic. India will have the discretion of withdrawing in case it feels the US had gone to war with a country which it sees as a “friend”.
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/story/237073.html
