Indian Ports To Gain From Indo-US Defense Logistics Agreement

US Navy Sailors stand guard at the rails of USS George Washington Super Carrier

Indian ports stand to gain more revenue with India and the US finalizing a defense logistics agreement that will allow the two nations to provide support to each other’s fighter planes, warships and personnel.

Since Indian peninsula is situated in a crucial sea-link between the Middle-east and south-east Asia, a substantial number of US naval ships and submarines transit through Indian ports.

US plans to station 60 per cent of its fleet in the Pacific-Indian Ocean area. “The newest and most capable weapons systems will go first to the region. When movements are completed, 60 per cent of the US fleet will be in the Pacific-Indian Ocean area,” the US Department of Defense said in a statement on Monday.

In a joint press conference Tuesday, US defence secretary Ashton Carter along with Indian defence minister Manohar Parrikar said the countries have agreed “in principle” to conclude a defence agreement that will allow the two countries to provide logistics to each other’s fighter planes, warships and personnel.

The agreement involves providing each other’s militaries with logistic support covering fuel, spares and repairs on a reimbursable or barter basis.

Carter and Parrikar reaffirmed their desire to expeditiously conclude a “white shipping” technical arrangement to improve data sharing on commercial shipping traffic and agreed to commence navy-to-navy discussions on submarine safety and anti-submarine warfare.

Also during their meeting, Carter and Parrikar reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding maritime security and ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight throughout the region, including in the South China Sea, the statement said.

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