India, US give nod for military logistic agreement

Manohar Parrikar said that growing interaction between armed forces of India and US is a significant aspect of bilateral relationship

India and the United States have agreed, in principle, to conclude a 'Logistic Exchange Memorandum of Agreement' on mutual military logistic support.

It, however, does not mean that troops of one country will be stationed in the other country, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said at a joint press conference with US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter on Tuesday.

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Parrikar said the growing interaction between armed forces of the two countries is a "significant aspect of bilateral relationship", pointing out that India has more joint exercises with the US than any other country in the world.

"In this context, Secretary Carter and I agreed, in principle, to conclude a Logistic Exchange Memorandum of Agreement in the coming months," Parrikar said.

Parrikar said the draft of the agreement will be ready in a month.

Asked if it will mean the presence of US troops in India, Carter said: "No one is talking about the US troops on Indian soil." He added that the details of the logistic support will be decided by the two governments.

Carter is on a three-day visit to India. He is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later on Tuesday.