India has become US military ally: CPI-M

India has formally become a military ally of the US after signing a Logistics Agreement that will allow American armed forces to access and use Indian military bases, the CPI-M said on Tuesday.

"By signing such an agreement, India has acquired the formal status of a

military ally of the US," the Communist Party of India-Marxist said in a statement.

"Under this agreement, the US air force and navy can use Indian naval and air bases for logistics support, refuelling and services on a regular basis.

"The US armed forces can utilise Indian military bases while conducting military operations in third countries," it said.

The Logistics Support Agreement was signed by the US and India on Monday.

The agreement, termed the Logistic Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), was signed in Washington during the visit of Defence Minister Manohar Parikkar.

"The (Narendra) Modi government has compromised on Indian sovereignty and surrendered its strategic autonomy by signing such an agreement with the most powerful imperialist country in the world," the CPI-M said.

"All patriotic Indians will reject such a subordinate role to US

imperialism," it added.

--IANS

mr/sar