Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA)

Why in news?

• The U.S. is keen that India sign the last foundational agreement, Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial cooperation (BECA), at the next India-U.S. 2+2 ministerial dialogue

About BECA:

• BECA is an agreement that would set a framework through which the United States could share sensitive data to aid targeting and navigation with India.
• There are four ‘foundational agreements’ that the U.S. enters into with its defence partners.
  • General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA)
  • Logistics support agreement (LSA)
  • Communications and Information Security Memorandum of Agreement (CISMOA)
  • Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) for Geospatial Intelligence
• India signed General Security Of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) in 2002, an India specific version of  logistics support agreement  called Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) in 2016 and CISMOA in 2018.
• BECA is thus the final agreement left to be signed.

Advantages:

• These agreements formalise the sharing of logistical facilities and align communication protocols between the US military and their partners like India.
• It would greatly enhance the range and capabilities of both forces in joint humanitarian or security missions,

What is 2+2 Dialogue?

• 2+2 Dialogue is a format of dialogue where the Defence and Foreign ministers or secretaries meet with their counterparts from another country.
• India holds such talks with select nations like Japan, Australia and USA.
• A similar dialogue with South Korea has been announced.

PRELIMS QUESTION

”Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA)”, a term recently seen in news, is seen in the context of India’s relationship with:
(a)Russia
(b)Australia
(c)United States of America
(d)China

Answer to prelims question