The standoff at the Line of Actual Control involving the Chinese troops at eastern Ladakh was discussed during the meeting of India’s Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and visiting US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in New Delhi on Saturday.
The press statements released by both the sides after the hour-long meeting was over stated that the dialogue was on “free and open Indo-Pacific”, a term which is being used increasingly amid China’s aggressive actions in the region.
US Defence Secretary General Lloyd Austinsaid, “As the world faces a global pandemic and growing challenges to an open and stable international system, the U.S.-India relationship is a stronghold of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”
India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh highlighted that both sides “discussed steps to be taken to realise full potential” of foundational agreements–LEMOA, COMCASA and BECA for mutual benefit and agreed to pursue “enhanced cooperation with the US Indo-Pacific Command, Central Command and Africa Command.”
LEMOA or Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement and COMCASA or the Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement are foundational agreements which Washington has signed with its close allies with an aim to increase military interoperability and transfer of equipment. Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) provides for sharing unclassified geospatial information.