India to Ink Agreements With US on Sharing Geospatial Information and Data

India to Ink Agreements With US on Sharing Geospatial Information and Data

According to recent news published by The Indian Express, following the inking of an important logistical pact (LEMOA) with the US, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar has indicated that India is not in a hurry to sign two other foundational agreements which America has been pushing for the past several years.

These two (CISMOA and BECA) are part of the four foundational agreements being pushed by the US for more than a decade now as part of its efforts to enhance defence ties with India.

  • CISMOA – Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement.
  • BECA – Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Intelligence.

Of the four agreements, General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) was signed in 2002 while the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) was signed on Monday (Aug. 29, 2016).

According to senior defence department officials, CISMOA permits secure communications interoperability between partners during bilateral and multinational training exercises and operations.

India and US have signed a logistics exchange pact, called Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement or LEMOA (Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter) Credit: The Financial Express

India and US have signed a logistics exchange pact, called Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement or LEMOA
(Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter)
Credit: The Financial Express

It enables friendly partner governments to receive both secure communications products and information on approved equipment for these purposes.

BECA allows for no-cost exchange of unclassified and controlled unclassified geospatial products, data, and services between India and the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA). Under this, partner governments agree to the exchange of topographical, nautical, and aeronautical data and products.

This agreement would enable India to obtain a range of geospatial products, training, and subject matter expert exchanges.

Additionally, NGA would be enabled to provide India with certain types of training at the NGA College as desired.

The agreement establishes a mutual understanding of classification equivalencies and an understanding of the requirements for safeguarding classified information and material.

Categories: GIS

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