Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar is likely to visit the U.S. capital later this month, which will be his second in eight months. Signing of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) between the two countries may be high on the agenda, though it does not necessarily require the presence of the Minister.
India and the U.S. had announced in April this year the decision to conclude the logistic support agreement, but the pact has not been signed yet. Hopes are high on the U.S. side that is in touch with India to draw up the agenda for the Minister’s visit, before a schedule is formally announced, an U.S. source told The Hindu . An Indian official refused to discuss the visit, but said the proposed visit is the routine annual visit of the Defence Minister, which might happen early this year because of U.S. elections in November. Mr. Parrikar was in Washington in December last year.
India was admitted to the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) - one of the international regimes that control trade in high technology - earlier this year, but it has not yet translated into any high technology transfer deal between the two countries. The reason is that American bureaucrats vetting such proposals are still waiting for signals from India on its long-term commitment to bilateral relations, according to the U.S. source. Singing of the LEMOA will be a clear signal in that direction. The law departments in India and the U.S. are currently vetting the draft of the agreement.
