India and the US have signed the much-awaited Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Cooperation (BECA). The agreement was signed during the 2 + 2 India-US Ministerial Dialogue. BECA is extremely crucial since it includes sharing classified information and giving India access to accurate geospatial data that will have several military applications.
Why is it important for India? In Five Points:
- Under BECA India will have access to classified geospatial data as well as critical information having significant military applications.
- India and US can exchange maps, nautical and aeronautical charts, commercial and other unclassified imagery, geophysical, geomagnetic, and gravity data.
- The agreement will also allow the US to share sensitive satellite and sensor data that would help India in striking military targets with pinpoint accuracy. (This means India can verify the success of its missile hits if there is another airstrike similar to Balakot).
- India will be able to keep a close watch on its neighbors (Chinese movement in the Indian Ocean).
- BECA will include exchange of information such as — tools and models to process GPS data and transform latitude, longitude, and height coordinates across various reference frames. Along with the GPS derived heights, an accurate geoid model will help determine the direction of water flows. The GNSS antenna calibration for the Antenna Reference Point (ARP) and North Reference Point (NRP) shall be part of the GEOINT for better reference data.
Opening New Avenues
Addressing the media the Defense Minister of India, Rajnath Singh said, “We are happy that we’ve completed the BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement), which will open new avenues in the information sharing. We are eager to discuss further issues with US.”
“We’ve strengthened our defense & security partnership especially over past year during which we advanced our regional security & information sharing. Our cooperation meets the challenges of the day & principles of a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.
Washington will also share technical and procedural information related to the standardization of methods, specifications, and formats for the collection, processing, and production of GEOINT data.
“Almost 15 years after the process of establishing an Indo-US strategic partnership began, we are today at a juncture where the regional and international strategic environment begs for a transformational change. The common threat of China and the uncertainty of the post-Covid world order actually creates a setting for greater Indo-US strategic cooperation. The 2+2 Dialogue at such a time conveys the prevailing sentiment in both nations,” said Lt. Gen. Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.) Defense Strategist.
Echoing the same thoughts, Lt. Gen. (Dr) AKS Chandele (Retd.) said, “BECA is a transformational agreement in comparison with earlier agreements. It will enable interoperability with the QUAD partners. BECA, along with the earlier three foundation agreements, will also help energize the Defence Trade and Technology Initiative (DTTI) between India and the US.”
The agreement has received positive response from the Indian geospatial industry as well.
Giving an elaborative overview Agendra Kumar, President, Esri India said, “The new BECA agreement is going to be a landmark event in the US-India relationship and cooperation. Along with COMCASA, and LEMOA, BECA will be one of the foundational military communication agreements between the two countries. BECA will allow India to use US geospatial information to achieve very high military accuracy for weapon systems such as cruise and ballistic missiles, and advanced UAVs.”
BECA is the final of the three agreements, enabling interoperability of forces and exchange of sensitive and classified information. The first two — Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), and Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) — were related to sharing military logistics and enabling secure communications.
“The way I see, the agreement goes beyond tactical objectives and includes exchange of Geospatial-Intelligence information for use by the government for defense and other purposes. The US would exchange technical and procedural information about methods, specifications and formats for the collection, processing, and production of GEOINT information with India. This agreement would benefit India in a more strategic manner and enhance the adoption of GIS technology in key decisions. At Esri India, we have been working with different organizations to deliver GIS solutions for strengthening National Security. We see this agreement as an opportunity for more engagements with defense organizations in India,” Kumar adds.
“BECA will help open up new avenues for Indo-US Corporation in technical expertise in the field of Space, communications, and cybersecurity, which till now was not available to us,” said Commodore Mukesh Bhargav (Retd.), Member of Board, L&T Defence and Vice President at L&T.
Rajan Aiyer, Managing Director, Trimble India, shares “BECA is a very critical and foundational aspect of the India-US 2+2 dialogue because it provides very precise topographic survey data critical to Indian armed forces having an upper edge in the very tough terrain in J&K, Ladakh and NE as well as in the critical areas of the Malacca Strait and other seaways critical to global trade. It will enable precision military action minimizing collateral damage and civilian causalities.”
The Geopolitical Impact
The signing of BECA has taken place at a crucial time when the US is just a week away from its presidential election. The agreement highlights the importance of US-India diplomatic relationship to the US. Also, this is when China and India are undergoing border tensions. The Galwan skirmish at the Sino-Indo border started when the world was already grappled with COVID-19 pandemic. Through the 2+2 Dialogue, regardless of the election and the pandemic, both US and India have a clear aim — China. Further, in November, the US, Japan, India, and Australia are going to hold a Joint Malabar Naval Exercise, which clearly indicates shaping up of an Indo-Pacific maritime security structure.
