Finally India and US have agreed in principle to sign within weeks a logistic exchange memorandum of agreement (LEMD) to provide supplies of fuel to each other’s Armed Forces. It does not however mean stationing of US troops on Indian soil, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar had stated on his return from the US that there would be no joint patrols which confirmed India’s non-aligned role. US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter is the chief architect of the Bilateral Defence and Trade and Technology Initiative (DITT). It tries to elevate the Defence relationship to development and cooperation. India has plans to procure $ 100 billion worth of arms over the next decade. The main driving force is the growth of conventional gap with China. The Chinese army is modernizing itself. India has to do the same with US firms like Boeing and Lockheed Martin promising full technology transfer. But US Congressional legislation still stands in the way.
Carter’s LEMA is a way forward . it will be the first of the foundational agreements tailored for India. His visit to New Delhi also paved the way for the new maritime security dialogue and the enhancement of the Navy to Navy discussions. There are also two new pathfinder projects under the DTTI. Indo-US dialogue this time seems to have gathered steam. But the negotiations are now at a nascent stage especially considering the possible outcome of the US presidential elections. Much will depend on US policy regarding west Asia. Afghanistan and Pakistan. US policy towards China may also oscillate.
