India could sign LEMOA-like logistics agreement with Russia during PM Narendra Modi's Vladivostok visit

India signed the LEMOA or the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement with the United States in August 2016. A similar agreement with Russia is likely in the next two months.

The Reciprocal Logistics Support Agreement (RLSA) is being readied and could happen in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is expected to be in Vladivostok for the East Asia Summit in September.

The RLSA will be a tri-service agreement, meaning that the Russians could not only use ports like Mumbai and Vishakhapatnam for refuelling but also, airports after the agreement is signed. India, of course, could do the same, when it came to Russian ports and airbases. Interestingly, global warming makes the signing of the agreement with Russia, one of India's closest defence allies, more imperative.

A high-level government official pointed out that the "Northern Arctic could well be upon for longer periods because of global warming. And also, India is looking at an Arctic station in the near future." Currently, there are monitoring stations manned by Indian environmental scientists in Svalbard, in Norway.

Russia is looking for a greater Indian role during the East Asia Summit. They have requested India for the presence of a warship to be anchored off Vladivostok during the summit. This could well be a frigate or destroyer of the Indian Navy made by an Indian shipyard.

Russia apart, India is looking for logistics support agreements with other countries. They include Japan, South Korea, Australia and Britain. The agreement with Australia is likely later this year.

The RLSA is more evidence of India's refusal to abandon its 50-year-old defence ties with Russia, despite American pressure. The United States had expressed its disappointment after India purchased the S-400 air-defence system and frigates. During the last meeting with US officials during the visit by Mike Pompeo, the US secretary of state, India pointed out that Russia had helped when no other country was willing to offer weapons and equipment.

 timesnownews