Representational image.1. India and the US signed a military Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) on Monday, after more than a decade of discussions.
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2. The US has agreed to elevate defense trade, technology sharing with India.
3. LEMOA facilitates the provision of logistical support, supplies, and services between the US and Indian militaries on a reimbursable basis, and provides a framework to govern them.
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4. This may include food, water, billeting, transportation, petroleum, oils, lubricants, clothing, medical services, spare parts and components, repair and maintenance services, training services, and other logistical items and services.
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5. It doesn't have anything to do with the setting up of base, but basically logistics support to each other's fleet, such as supply of fuel, supply of many other things which are required for joint operations, humanitarian assistance and many other relief operations.
6. Defense minister Manohar Parrikar said that US is one of India's primary sources of defense equipment, and while it has shared some of its cutting-edge platforms, he would like to take this forward to greater collaborative projects.
7. "It will facilitate defense, trade and technology sharing with India on a level we reserve only for our closest friends and allies, and it will support both of what I have called the two important handshakes between our countries and our two militaries,"US secretary of defense Ashton Carter said.
8. The agreement will "make logistics of joint operations much easier" according to US secretary of defense Ashton Carter.
9. LEMOA will advance on a number of collaborative projects - jet engine technology, chemical and biological protection, aircraft carriers and other systems - all by the end of the year.
10. LEMOA will also see US working together and networking with other Asia-Pacific militaries to provide the security and to promote the principles, including freedom of navigation and overflight, that have benefited many including India: Carter said.
