India and US to discuss giving access to each other’s military bases and ports

NEW DELHI: India has agreed to reopen talks with the US on a pact to allow each other access to their military bases and ports, signalling a strategic shift from the UPA position to not take any such step for fear of conveying an impression of a military alliance.

The proposed pact, which is called the Logistics Support Agreement (LSA), allows both sides to make changes to each other’s facilities in a way that it allows for easier conduct of military exercises besides expanding their scope and ambition. It’s also aimed at raising trust levels for the US to share more high-end technology with India, which is critical to spur military co-production between both countries.