Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) | UPSC

BASIC EXCHANGE AND COOPERATION AGREEMENT (BECA)

• This is the fourth and the last of the foundational agreements that both countries have concluded.
• Starting with GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement) in 2002.
• LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement) in 2016
• COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement) in 2018 ,and now BECA.

WHAT ARE FOUNDATIONAL AGREEMENTS?

• The United States enters into what are called ‘foundational or enabling agreements’ with its defence partners.
• These agreements govern the nature and scope of U.S. defence partnerships.

• The competitive advantage of the U.S. military is maintained primarily by the advanced technologies that the country develops continuously.
• The U.S. sells military equipment to other countries with strict control over their deployment and use.

• The sale of advanced communication and security systems on the aircraft — which are not commercially available — is made seamless by foundational agreements.
• The U.S. is also eager to advance ‘interoperability’ with defence forces of the countries that are its defence partners.
• Interoperability involves real-time coordination of forces.
• The U.S. has signed these foundational agreements with at least 100 countries, which mostly follow a standard text.

WHAT DO THESE AGREEMENTS DO?

• The General Security of Military Information Agreement or GSOMIA, and its extension, the Information Security Annex (ISA) were signed in 2019.
• It allows military technology cooperation for the sharing of classified information between governments and companies in both countries.

• Even in the absence of this agreement, such cooperation can and has taken place between India and the U.S.,but the agreement makes it seamless, and the accounting easier.
• The COMCASA allows Indian forces to procure advanced, secure communication equipment from the U.S.
• Such equipment was earlier denied for U.S. origin platforms such as C-17, C-130, and commercial systems were used in their place.
• Only after COMCASA was signed were the encrypted systems provided to India.
• The BECA enables exchange of geospatial information.

WHAT IS THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF THESE AGREEMENTS?

• Since the Civil Nuclear Agreement of 2005, the India-U.S. defence cooperation has been advancing at a rapid pace.

• Foundational agreements deepen defence cooperation, in trade and operation.
• India and the U.S. are also part of a broader shared vision for the Indo-Pacific region, where both countries, along with Japan and Australia, are increasing their military cooperation.
• U.S.-built platforms used by partner countries can talk to one another and share operational information.

CONCERNS

• Critics worry that tying itself too closely with the U.S. may limit India’s choices.

• The U.S. is very particular about the integrity of its networks, and pressure could mount on India to remain firmly in its camp.
• The U.S. is particularly irked by India’s continuing defence cooperation with Russia.
• India will be taking the delivery of Russian S-400 missile defence system next year, ignoring American objections.

• At any rate, it will not be possible to integrate Russian and American platforms, and this could throw up new challenges of military planning for India.
• India could ramp up its defence cooperation with the U.S. without ending up as its ally.