US To Build Naval Logistic Hubs In India To Counter China

The US will assist India in building naval logistic hubs, bolstering Indo-US ties and countering China’s increasing presence in the Indo-Pacific region. 

These logistic hubs will be used by the US and other allies for resupply, repair and maintenance of ships and aircrafts. 

During PM Modi’s recent visit to the US, both countries agreed to a comprehensive defence and economic partnership. The joint statement read, “The U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership has emerged as a pillar of global peace and security,”.

Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA)

The US Navy has already signed a Master Ship Repair Agreement (MSRA) with Larsen & Toubro near Chennai and is finalising similar agreements with Mazagon Dock Limited in Mumbai and the Goa Shipyard. 

The signing of MSRA has followed another significant development in the Indo-US defence industrial cooperation, the India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X). Launched on June 21st, INDUS-X will serve as an innovation bridge connecting US and Indian defence start-ups. 

The MSRA also complements the Logistic Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) signed in 2016. Under LEMOA both countries have access to designated military facilities of either side for fuel and replenishment. An important aspect of this is the mechanism for payments and bookkeeping to facilitate the process. The LEMOA is limited to situations arising from port calls, joint exercises, training and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR). The MRSA now expands that envelope.

Other Important India-US Agreements

India-US cooperation has four fundamental agreements that have been signed since 2002. The General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) in 2002, the LEMOA of 2016, the 2018 Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA) and the 2020 Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Cooperation (BECA).

US naval presence in other Indian Ocean counties 

In the Pacific region, the US currently has key Naval hubs in Japan and Singapore. The US Seventh fleet is based in Yokosuka, Japan, where it utilises repair and maintenance facilities. The US has military-industrial relations with Singapore, it has deployed combat naval ships at Changi Naval base in Singapore. 

The US has built a naval hub on Australia’s western coast as well and also has a military base at Diago Gracias island in the Indian Ocean. Naval logistic hubs in India will provide the US with much-needed flexibility in the region. 

Countering China in Indo-Pacific (South China Sea)

China has been increasing its presence in the Indo-Pacific region, it has a naval presence at Djibouti on the Horn of Africa, it has Gwadar port in Pakistan and Hambantota port in Sri Lanka. The common interest of countering China’s increasing military presence has a major role in getting both the countries, India and the US, to have military and security cooperation.