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India to sign geo-spatial cooperation deal with U.S.
Why is it in news?
- Defence minister said that India and USA will sign India and the U.S. will sign the last foundational agreement, Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial cooperation (BECA) during the 2+2 ministerial dialogue.
Details:
- BECA is the fourth and final "foundational" understanding the US has with India.
- The two countries have already signed General Security of Military Information Agreement (2002), Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (2016), Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (2018) to exchange military logistics and enable secure communications.
- BECA will give India access to classified geo-spatial data as well as critical information having significant military applications.
- Under BECA, the two countries can exchange maps, nautical and aeronautical charts, commercial and other unclassified imagery, geophysical, geomagnetic and gravity data.
- The agreement will allow the US to share sensitive satellite and sensor data that would help India in striking military targets with pinpoint accuracy.
- India will be able to keep a close watch on the movements of Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean.