India and the United States on Tuesday signed the landmark Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) that will allow the sharing of high-end military technology, classified satellite data and critical information between the two countries.
According to officials, BECA will give India access to classified geospatial data as well as critical information having significant military applications from the US.
The signing of the long-negotiated Basic defence agreement during the third edition of the 2+2 dialogue between the two strategic partners also signals further boosting of bilateral defence and military ties which comes in the backdrop of India’s tense border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held the talks with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defence Secretary Mark T Esper. Both the sides were assisted by their top military and security officials.
My statement after Ministerial Level India-US 2+2 Dialogue in New Delhi pic.twitter.com/VlaYeKCWG8
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 27, 2020
In the 2+2 dialogue, the two sides discussed on a host of critical issues including ways to further expand the already close relationship between the militaries of the two countries as well as broader issues of mutual interest in the Indo-Pacific region.
The inking of the BECA completes finalisation of four key pacts between the two countries which were identified as crucial to significantly expand the strategic ties.
