Logistics Agreements signed by India and other countries

Context: India and Russia are set to sign a bilateral military logistics agreement in the coming months. India has such military logistics agreements with Australia, Japan, the United States – the Quad countries – as well as with France, Singapore, and South Korea. India is currently in the process of finalizing such an agreement with the U.K. and in talks with other partners like Vietnam.

Relevance: Prelims- Current affairs of national and international importance
Mains- GS-2; Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests

Introduction:

• Logistics Supply Agreement (LSA) is an agreement between two nations, for the execution of various activities with each other, an agreement to assist each other
• A logistics Agreement is basically a bilateral agreement
• Logistics agreement allows reciprocal access to the facilities of nations that have signed the agreement
• Facilitate greater interoperability between the nations.
• Support to conduct training in each other’s areas.
• Reciprocal facilitation of forces when engaged in activities such as disaster relief, humanitarian aid, and peacekeeping operations. 
• Support each other’s forces during joint deployment under an international mandate of the United Nations (UN).
• Access to each other’s ports – for the purpose of berthing, fuelling, support of spare parts, repairs, etc.
• It also includes rest and recuperation of crew members, supply of essential items like water, food, etc.
• Permit smooth and seamless conduct of long-duration complex and joint military exercises without the burden of logistic sustainment of forces in the foreign land by the guest country

Benefits of Logistics Agreements:

• It helps a country in power projection in international waters, far away from its borders
• It is possible since the nation’s armed forces do not have to carry all the required logistics for sustaining itself at a faraway location from its home turf.
• Hence a country’s surveillance aircraft, fighter aircraft, and warships can enter the other nation’s (with LSA has been signed) airports and ports for the necessary logistics supply
• This agreement sends a strategic message to the target country
• LSA helps in swift response to a crisis situation, and tracking of enemy ships, thereby increasing Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).
• It helps in maintaining a presence in an area of importance, for an entire year, round the clock without interruption

Need for Logistics Agreements:

• These agreements go a long way in expanding India’s military reach, especially maritime outreach and influence in various regions that are strategically important to India
•  As India continues to rise, its requirements are to go farther out into the seas and not just be not confined to immediate waters around India but also to expand
• To permit India to undertake a number of mission-based deployments in the Indian Ocean region and the broader Indo-Pacific.
•  China’s increasing activities in the Indo-Pacific have motivated India to embrace military logistics agreements with a wide variety of partners
•  To save time and reduces overall costs
• These agreements enhance the operational turnaround and strengthen the interoperability among partner navies on the high seas

List of various Logistics Agreements signed between India and other countries:

1. Between India and USA:
   • To boost bilateral ties between Indian and US armed forces, 3 important agreements were signed, which are given below:
     • Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) 
       • It was signed in 2016.
       • This agreement allows the use of each other’s military logistics facilities.
       • LEMOA will increase the range and reach capability of the Indian Navy world over. For example, the Indian Navy can use a US base located in Guam, thus increasing the reach of the Indian Navy.
       • It gives access to designated military facilities on either side for refueling and replenishment.
       • A mechanism will be instituted for bookkeeping and payments and officials, who will act as nodal points of contact, will be designated on both sides.
       • The agreement will cover four areas:
         • Port calls, Joint exercises, Training, Humanitarian Assistance, and Disaster relief
       • Other areas include food, water, billeting, transportation, petroleum, oils, lubricants, clothing, communication services, medical services, storage services, training services, spare parts and components, repair and maintenance services, and calibration services
       • It does not provide for the establishment of any bases or basing arrangements.
       • This is purely a logistical agreement
       • The Agreement does not create any obligations on either Party to carry out any joint activity. 
     • Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) 
       • It was signed between India and US in November 2020
       • With this agreement, the Indian military can access the geospatial intelligence data from the United States of America (USA)
       • This will help in increasing the accuracy of long-range weapons
     • Communication Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (COMCASA) 
       • This agreement was signed in 2018
       • It is meant to provide a legal framework for the transfer of communication security equipment from the U.S. to India.
       • It mainly focuses on using encrypted communication networks, which is required for optimum utilization of high-end defense equipment like P-8I Maritime Surveillance aircraft which is currently used by the Indian Navy
2.  Between India and France:
   •  The Logistics Supply Agreement would facilitate the French and Indian armed forces to receive logistical support, supplies, and services from each other during authorized port visits, joint exercises, joint training, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief efforts. 
   •  It will promote peace and stability in the Pacific and the Indian Ocean regions
   • The Navies of India and France will share maritime intelligence
3. Between India and Australia:
   • India and Australia signed a Comprehensive Mutual Logistic Support Agreement (MLSA), on June 04, 2020
   • It is the first agreement signed in a virtual bilateral meeting.
   • Both nations emphasized a shared vision for maritime cooperation in the Indo-Pacific
4. Between India and Japan:
   • India and Japan signed a logistics supply agreement known as Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA).
   • This agreement was signed in September 2020
   • It will allow the armed forces of both sides to coordinate closely in services and supplies
5. Between India and Singapore:
   • India and Singapore signed the Logistics support agreement on 01 June 2020.
   • This agreement encompasses ship-borne helicopters, aircraft, warships, and submarines
6. Between India and South Korea:
   • India signed a mutual support logistics agreement with South Korea in September 2019.
   • With this agreement, the Indian Navy’s reach has extended all the way to the North of South China Sea
7. Between India and Russia (soon to be concluded):
   • The Reciprocal Exchange of Logistics Agreement (RELOS) will enable India to access Russian facilities in the Arctic region that have witnessed increased global activity after the opening of new shipping routes
   • It will provide logistical support that facilitates access to each other’s military facilities, in exchange for fuel and other provisions
   • It will help increase the operational turnaround and interoperability of the Indian Navy while on the high seas.
8. India is currently in the process of finalizing such an agreement with the U.K. and in talks with other partners like Vietnam

Special Significance of RELOS (between India and Russia)

• Though the Indo-Pacific would continue to be a key area of India’s maritime domains, India cannot ignore the physical and geopolitical transitions occurring in the Arctic
• India’s priorities in the Arctic are quite different and independent from other countries' (especially China’s) emerging engagements in the region.
• India’s primary engagements in the Arctic are focused on understanding scientific interconnections between Arctic sea ice melting and changes in Indian monsoon systems
• India still cannot afford to lose sight of geopolitical and geo-economic transitions emerging in the region, where states like China are pursuing dominant economic and strategic posturing in the region
• Therefore, RELOS would initially act as a support mechanism to Indian naval ships venturing into Arctic waters for routine voyages to mark their strategic reach and presence in the region

Conclusion:

These agreements go a long way in expanding India’s military reach, especially maritime outreach and influence in various regions that are strategically important to India. On a practical note, it saves enormous time and reduces overall costs of the lengthy bookkeeping exercises that the militaries have to otherwise do with each visit, such as when the respective militaries are involved in operations like humanitarian assistance and disaster relief or even bilateral military exercises.