India takes a measured stance in its military engagement with the US, turns down LSA

New Delhi: In a case of what may be described as taking two-steps forward and one step back, India may have signaled to visiting US defence secretary, Robert Gates, its willingness to further bolster defence ties with the US, through more joint combat exercises designed to increase interoperability, increased procurement of military hardware and also secrecy and end-use verification pacts for the use of American defence equipment but a lack of enthusiasm for signing a Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), proposed by the US over two years ago.

Under such an agreement, armed forces of both the countries can access each other's ports and military bases and make use of facilities on credit, which are accounted for at the end of the year. Such an agreement allows for a more economical use of such facilities by partner nations as an agreement also ensures subsidized rates.

The normal use of such facilities involves payments made at full rates.

So, for instance, US naval ships in the Gulf and Pacific region, on their visits to an Indian port, would pay full rates for the use of these facilities. By the same token, the Indian Air Force (IAF), will pay full rates for the use of USAF facilities at Air Force Base Nellis when it arrives there later this year to participate in the prestigious Red Flag exercises.

Since Left parties in the country find any association with the US military anathema, and since they are also supporting the UPA government at the center, it has been felt prudent by the union government to restrict itself to a more limited engagement with the US at the current juncture.
 
The Indo-US civil nuclear deal has already drawn sufficient flak from the Left parties to ensure that the UPA government proceeds on the matter with caution.

Not prepared to be held hostage by the Left in its dealings with the US, a matter which India considers to be of strategic importance, it will sign other defence pacts like the Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and the End-Use Verification Agreement for US-sold defence equipment.

Strategic considerations apart, there are also commercial considerations in America's military engagement with India as this country is expected to spend around $30 billion or so over the coming five years in procuring military equipment.