The agreement facilitates India`s use of U.S. encrypted communications devices and systems. Indian and U.S. military commanders, aircraft and ships can communicate over secure networks in both peacetime and wartime. COMCASA is just one agreement in the chain of agreements that the United States has crafted to strengthen its interests in the Asia-Pacific region. The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) and the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) are examples of other agreements that the United States uses to connect with its military partners. The main objective of COMCASA is to facilitate military relations, communications and the exchange of valuable technologies. When it comes to maintaining diplomatic relations, the subtleties of each partner such as culture, history, language, etc. must be taken into account. The 2+2 also produced other significant chords. For example, the two countries have agreed: the most famous agreement signed between India and the US is called the India-US civil nuclear deal, also known as the 123 agreement. Under that agreement, India agreed to separate its civil and nuclear facilities and place all its civilian nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards, and in return, the United States agreed to full civil nuclear cooperation with India. The four basic agreements cover a wide range of factors related to military cooperation and communications.
They concern information exchange, military technologies, cooperation, communications, logistics, etc. Because of the existence of these agreements, India and the United States can be officially referred to as “defence partners”. These agreements also formally and legally bind the two countries to their mutual obligations under the terms of the agreements. The landmark COMCASA deal is likely to pave the way for the sale of more sensitive US military equipment to India. The deal was reached after Pompeo and U.S. Defense Secretary James “Jim” Mattis met with Defense Secretary Nirmala Sitharaman and Swaraj in New Delhi for talks. COMCASA is an important boost for India, which was named a major defense partner by the US in 2016. What is COMCASA?• The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) is one of four fundamental agreements that a country must sign to become a major defense partner of the United States. The agreement will enter into force immediately and will last for 10 years.• The other three agreements are the General Agreement on the Security of Military Information (GSOMIA), the Memorandum of Understanding on Logistics Exchange (LEMoA) and the Basic Agreement for Exchange and Cooperation (BECA).• COMCASA provides the legal framework for the United States to divest itself of its sensitive communication equipment and codes.
to enable the transmission of operational information in real time. This equipment is primarily used for surface-to-air communications to provide the best combat situational awareness.• It ensures that the US and Indian armed forces can improve their “interoperability” and share real-time operational information in the years to come. • For example, if a U.S. warship or aircraft detects a Chinese submarine in the Indian Ocean, it can enter India in real time via warships or aircraft equipped with COMCASA-protected equipment.• COMCASA allows the U.S. to transmit high-tech avionics, encrypted communications, and electronic systems. and maintain the secrecy of its C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, e.g. reconnaissance, surveillance and reconnaissance systems). The signing of COMCASA will give India access to advanced U.S. technologies and improve India`s defense readiness.• The pact guarantees India access to U.S. defense technologies and critical communications networks to assist the two countries` armed forces in their interoperability.• COMCASA will enable India to provide specialized encrypted communications equipment for military platforms from the United States as Bill C-17. C-130 and P-8I. • COMCASA will effectively mean that India will share US information in real time on China and Pakistan`s military operations.• COMCASA will be particularly important as India buys the combat version of Sea Guardian drones from the US.
The U.S. would not have provided India with the drone`s weapon systems without COMCASA.• However, signing the agreement does not mean that India would necessarily have to buy U.S. military hardware.• Before signing the agreement, India ensured that it would have full access to the equipment. There is no obligation to take over and there will be no interruption. The COMCASA agreement was signed by India and the United States on 6 September 2018 at the first “Two Plus Two” dialogue in New Delhi. Union Secretary of Defense Nirmala Sitharaman and U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis signed the COMCASA agreement. COMCASA, or Communications Security and Compatibility Agreement, is one of four core agreements between the United States and India. It was signed between the two countries in September 2018.
It is the Indian version of the Memorandum of Understanding on Interoperability and Security of Communications (CISMOA) and is valid for 10 years. The LEMOA, or Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, is a version inherited from the original LSA, or Logistics Support Agreement. LEMOA and COMCASA have been adapted from their original models to fit the Indian scenario. LEMOA was signed on August 29, 2016, two years before COMCASA. LEMOA was also the first of the founding agreements to be signed. Fortunately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi`s government has been more willing than its predecessors to push the boundaries of strategic cooperation with the United States. Nevertheless, India insisted on several amendments and provisions of the model CISMOA agreement. India and the United States signed the agreement on July 6. The COMCASA Basic or Enabling Agreement was signed on the sidelines of the first 2+2 dialogue. This does not mean that US troops will be stationed in India or vice versa.
The agreement is purely logistical. The agreement is useful for marine-to-marine cooperation between the two countries and allows India to use the range of US facilities around the world for logistical support. Similarly, the United States may also benefit from Indian facilities. 2. The agreement will give the Indian Army access to secure and encrypted high-end communications equipment installed on US platforms obtained by the Indian Armed Forces. These platforms include C-130 J, C-17, P-8I aircraft and Apache and Chinook helicopters. 1. It is one of three basic defense pacts that must be signed by a country to receive high-tech military equipment from the United States. Prior to COMCASA, India had signed only one of these agreements – the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) – in 2016. The two countries have not yet started talks on the third agreement – Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Cooperation (BECA).
The above agreements are signed by the United States with countries with which it has close military relations. Maintaining confidentiality and preventing information leakage is a universal feature of agreements. The agreements also give the US some legitimacy to operate more freely in the Asia-Pacific region, under the pretext of keeping China under control. These agreements and the Donald Trump administration`s decision to grant India Strategic Trade Authorization-1 (STA-1) status show the importance of the country in the strategic calculus of the United States. BECA was launched on September 27. October 2020 and was the last agreement signed among the 4 founding treaties. The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) is an agreement between the United States Department of Defence and the Indian Ministry of Defence. BECA focuses on the exchange of unclassified information obtained from satellites, such as nautical charts, aeronautical charts, gravity fields, etc.
In addition, there are also provisions for the exchange of classified information used by weapons such as missiles and combat drones. This exchange of classified information shall also be protected against leakage to third parties. Through BECA, India can access U.S. hardware and software, such as technology and data needed to control certain missile systems. COMCASA stands for Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement and is one of four fundamental agreements that the United States signs with allies and close partners to facilitate interoperability between militaries and the sale of high-end technologies. Since the Obama administration, the US has focused on creating the Asian geopolitical arena as a major player. With the signing of the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) in 2002 and India`s integration into the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative, the United States gradually laid the groundwork for further cooperation with India. One of the main reasons for the 4 basic agreements – including BECA, LEMOA and COMCASA – is the revision of Chinese expansion and ambitions. The founding agreements (including COMCASA) form the foundation or foundation.
the foundation of the U.S.-India defense partnership. These agreements cover different facets of Indo-US military cooperation, but they also have a lot in common, such as the need for confidentiality, and are tailored to the Indian scenario. In order to understand the role and functions of COMCASA, it is also important to examine the functions and interdependencies it has with other basic agreements.