India, US to Sign Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement Today
The United States is expected to sign the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) with India that allows it to share top-secret satellite and sensor data, aiding New Delhi in selecting military targets.
The deal would let India gain access to military information which includes maps, nautical and aeronautical charts, commercial and other unclassified imagery, geodetic, geophysical, geomagnetic and gravity data. It will allow the U.S. military provide advanced financial navigational aids and geospatial intelligence which will improve the Indian forces’ accuracy of automated hardware systems and weapons like cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and drones.
BECA will help both parties to counter growing Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific region thereby strengthening the Quad. India will be able to keep a close watch on the movements of Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean.