India could sign 4th foundational military pact with US

India is possibly getting ready to sign the fourth and final `foundational military pact’ called Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation (BECA) with the US. This deal is slated to further strengthen their bilateral strategic partnership. The BECA will enable US to provide advanced satellite and topographical data for long-range navigation and missile-targeting with India, and is “very likely” to be signed during the “two-plus-two” dialogue scheduled between the two countries. It will enable India to use its ballistic and cruise missiles, drones and other weapons, with much better accuracy.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will be representing India at this dialogue with their counterparts Mark Esper and Mike Pompeo from the US. Earlier, India has signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) with US in 2002; Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016, and Communications, Compatibility and Security Arrangement (COMCASA) in 2018.