After years of Russian dominance the United States is emerging as India’s top arms source, and currently holds more joint exercises with it than any other country. In a clear sign of shifting geopolitical alliances, India and United States are closing in on the Logistic Support agreement (LSA). Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration’s desire to move ahead with the LSA would mean that both countries militaries provide their bases, fuel and other kinds of logistics support to each others’ fighter jets and naval warships.
The origins of the LSA can be found in the Strategic Partnership document signed by both countries in March 2006 during the visit of the US President George W. Bush to New Delhi which stated that the US and India will soon sign an agreement to facilitate mutual logistic support during combined training, exercises and disaster relief operations. The agreement was always meant to be part of a larger security cooperation including maritime, counter-terrorism, defence trade and efforts for a quick conclusion of the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty. However the previous Indian government had reservations about the agreement fearing that it would weaken India’s strategic autonomy and draw it into an undeclared military alliance with the United States.
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