LEMOA marks shift in India-US strategic relations, benefits Pentagon

India and the United States formalised a military logistics agreement on August 29th. Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar concluded negotiations with US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter in Washington DC. Foreign Secretary John Kerry met Prime Minister Narendra Modi the following morning in New Delhi. The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) represents the culmination of talks initiated over a decade earlier.

The accord grants both nations non-exclusive rights to access each other’s military bases and infrastructure. Refuelling, repairs, and inventory support fall within its provisions. India negotiated a customised version rather than accepting the standard Logistics Support Agreement that the United States typically offers allied nations. The distinction reflects India’s size and significance, yet the practical implications remain substantial.

What LEMOA entails for India-US military cooperation

LEMOA emerged from negotiations begun under former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee‘s government 12 years before.

After suffering international isolation following the Pokhran nuclear tests, Vajpayee’s administration had reoriented India’s foreign policy towards closer engagement with Western powers.

Former US president Bill Clinton’s visit in 2000 accelerated this process. Discussions on military cooperation and defence ties intensified thereafter.

In 2002, Vajpayee’s government signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement. This pact established frameworks for sharing sensitive defence information. It facilitated deeper military relationships with the United States, Israel, France and Britain. The foundation for expanded India-US defence engagement had taken shape.

LEMOA forms part of a four-agreement framework that the United States negotiates with military partners. India has already signed the End User Verification Agreement. Two additional accords remain under consideration—the Communications Interoperability and Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA) and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement on Geo-spatial Services (BECA). Defence analysts have expressed significant reservations about these remaining agreements. They argue that CISMOA and BECA threaten India’s national security and strategic autonomy.

The Congress-led government had delayed these negotiations for years. The 2008 nuclear accord with the United States had destabilised former prime minister Manmohan Singh‘s coalition. Political costs deterred rapid progress on further military agreements. The Modi administration moved decisively. Within months of taking office, it accelerated India-US defence coordination and completed the stalled LEMOA negotiations.

American military presence in India

American military personnel have operated from Indian territory since the Second World War. Following independence in 1947, the then prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, negotiated agreements allowing US military refuelling. An interim government accord signed in July 1947 established these arrangements. The provisions continued through the 1960s.

When conflict erupted in Kashmir in 1948, Nehru dispatched military attachés to the Pentagon. India sought American weapons systems. Nehru cultivated close relations with the Truman administration. The CIA initially distrusted the then defence minister, Krishna Menon, for his firebrand rhetoric. The agency soon recognised Menon’s willingness to cooperate with American defence interests.

The 1962 Sino-Indian war transformed India’s military calculations. India relied upon American weapons to counter Chinese forces. Subsequent governments maintained complex relationships with multiple superpowers.

Indira Gandhi tilted towards the Soviet Union, signing a military pact in 1971. Yet she maintained official non-alignment, negotiating simultaneously with both superpowers for maximum advantage.

The Soviet Union’s economic decline in the 1980s altered strategic equations. Rajiv Gandhi’s government embraced economic liberalisation. The decision to grant safe passage to a Union Carbide executive following the Bhopal gas catastrophe signalled India’s shifting orientation. Indian officials demonstrated willingness to accommodate Western corporate and strategic interests.

Former prime minister Chandrasekhar, whose government derived support from anti-communist formations, granted American jets refuelling privileges during the 1991 Gulf War. This marked a significant departure from the principles of the Non-Alignment Movement.

Successive Congress governments accelerated economic opening. Defence sector liberalisation followed.

Strategic implications of India-US defence deepening

The Modi government presented LEMOA as essential for countering regional threats. Officials emphasised strategic partnership and shared democratic values. China’s much hyped military expansion provided the stated rationale. Proponents argue that closer coordination between India and the US would enhance regional stability.

Yet LEMOA’s practical implications extend beyond such framing. The accord provides American military forces operational flexibility within Indian territory. While technically non-binding on both sides, refusing US requests carries diplomatic costs. Historical precedent suggests that logistical agreements tend to expand incrementally. Initial access frequently leads to demands for expanded military cooperation.

India’s defence procurement patterns have shifted markedly. The government raised foreign direct investment limits in defence manufacturing to 100%. The ‘ Make in India’ initiatives promise indigenous defence production. In practice, these policies have enabled Western defence companies to manufacture systems in India using Indian materials and labour.

The Rafale fighter jet purchase demonstrates this pattern. The Modi government approved purchasing 126 aircraft from France. Initial cost estimates from 2012 stood at Rs 7.5bn per aircraft. By 2015, the unit cost had risen to Rs 16bn. Defence spending has become concentrated in high-cost procurement from Western suppliers.

Sovereignty and strategic autonomy at stake

India’s Non-Alignment Movement legacy prioritised strategic autonomy above military alliance. That principle shaped Indian policy throughout the Cold War. LEMOA represents a departure from non-alignment towards formal military integration with a superpower. The accord signals deepening India-US military coordination at a structural level.

American defence establishments historically seek to consolidate positions once initial access agreements are achieved. LEMOA may constitute the opening phase of an expanded military relationship rather than its conclusion. The asymmetry between American and Indian military capabilities shapes the practical implications. The United States possesses vastly superior military assets and global reach. This imbalance affects the dynamics of any logistical arrangement.

Defence analysts disagree on LEMOA’s long-term consequences. Proponents maintain that American military cooperation strengthens India’s regional position. Critics contend that deepening military integration compromises strategic independence.

The LEMOA signing reflects broader trends in Indian defence policy. Successive administrations have gradually expanded cooperation with Western military powers. Each accord has normalised closer defence integration. India has shifted incrementally from balancing multiple superpower relationships towards privileged American military ties.

The implications for Indian sovereignty require sustained scrutiny. LEMOA represents a waypoint in India-US military relations rather than a destination. Subsequent agreements and operational practices will reveal the accord’s true significance for India’s strategic positioning. The consequences of this deepening military alignment will extend across decades.