During Obama Visit, Modi Government Ready to Try What UPA Couldn't

The Narendra Modi-led government is all set to go where the previous UPA government had feared to tread. India and the US may soon agree on allowing their warships and aircraft to access each other's bases, refuel and, in case of emergency, operate side by side.

For this, India has to sign what the US calls "Foundational Documents" or agreements required by its law for the transfer of sophisticated military technology and weapons to a country.

Sources tell NDTV that the government is no longer shy of exploring the pacts that the previous Congress-led government, especially then Defence Minister AK Antony, had refused to even consider, saying India's sovereignty would be compromised.
 

In a sign of change under the new government, these agreements were at the core of negotiations between India and the US for renewing a 10-year Defence Framework pact. The discussions ended on Wednesday, setting the stage for announcements to be made during President Barack Obama's visit.

Sources tell NDTV that the US handed over "Non Papers" - or informal discussion papers - asking India to consider the agreements. In response, New Delhi asked how these would benefit India. The pacts include the Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement, the Logistics Support Agreement and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for geo-spatial cooperation.

Sources say New Delhi's apprehensions on these pacts are wearing thin.

"Signing the agreements will institutionalise what is already routine...Indian ships replenishing supplies in Gulf with US support or vice versa. There is hardly any request that is denied on either side," a senior Defence Ministry official told NDTV.

The official also said signing one of these agreements may at times lead to a situation where the US can listen in on communication between platforms, but also allow Indian surveillance aircraft and ships to hook on to US satellites, connect to American assets thousands of nautical miles away and gather real time information, which India cannot do today.

Sources say PM Modi has asked the Defence Ministry to explore "convergence" with the US on these issues while renewing the 2005 Defence framework pact, under which the US has supplied $10 billion worth of weapons to India.

Political opposition had forced the Congress-led government to skirt around the contentious agreements. There have been major changes since then; the US has shifted its focus from the Gulf to Asia, where it sees India as a "strategic partner." More importantly, Prime Minister Modi has enough numbers in Parliament and is not dependent on allies who may object.