CISMOA, LSA not on table of Indo-US stategic dialogue

New Delhi, Jul 15 (PTI) The defence pacts, including
CISMOA and LSA, are "not on the table" during the second round
of the Indo-US strategic dialogue to be held here on July 19.
"We don't think that at this stage there is any need for
what is called the foundation agreements (CISMOA, BECA and
LSA). They are not on the table at the moment and in any case,
they don't come in the way of the expansion of our defence
cooperation," sources said here.
Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-spatial
Cooperation (BECA), Logistics Support Agreement (LSA) and
Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of
Agreement (CISMOA) are the US arrangements for enhancing
defence ties with other countries.
CISMOA and BECA are required by US law for providing
another country with the most advanced electronics on US
weapons platforms. In the absence of these, the C-130J Super
Hercules transport aircraft has been delivered to India
without communication equipment.
As per the LSA, the US and the other signatory country
have to provide their bases, fuel and other kind of logistics
support to each others' fighter jets and naval warships
through cashless transactions, which are balanced at the end
of the year.
The sources noted that there was a lot of defence
cooperation happening in the field of transfer of technology
and research and development between the two sides.
"Our defence cooperation is in good place and it is
growing", the sources said, adding accumulative defence
bilateral trade in the last four years exceeds USD eight
billion.
The two countries have been discussing these three pacts
for the last four to five years. The US is keen that India
signs these agreements but India has been showing reluctance
to do so.