COMCASA: A boost to India’s security forces

In order to obtain high tech-military hardware from the US, a country has to sign four foundational defence pacts, and

COMCASA is one amongst them. India signed the General Security of Military Information Agreement in 2002, which has the motive of sharing and protecting military information between both countries. The other agreement, known as The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, was signed in 2016 and looks to provide mutual logistical help around the world. And after the signing of the third agreement, i.e., COMCASA, the last of the four agreements known as the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geo-Spatial Cooperation was signed on October 20, 2020, which will provide the Indian military system with high-quality GPS to monitor missiles and prepare for adverse weather beforehand. And with the signing of these agreements, one can expect the beginning of a deep military connection between the US and India.

However, it was back on September 6, 2018, when India and the US signed the historic Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement, popularly known as COMCASA, during the first ever ‘2+2’ talks between the countries. The agreement was signed in the presence of the then External Affairs Minister of India, Late Sushma Swaraj, and the then Defence Minister of India, Nirmala Sitharaman, alongside the US representatives in the form of Mike Pompeo and Jim Mattis. This agreement can also be considered a major step in the growing relationship between India and the US, and the joint statement that came in after the talks was like a big boost for the enhancement of India’s security forces. The signing of this agreement meant that Indians would have access to advanced defence systems, and the country would also be able to optimally utilise its US-origin platforms. The agreement also has provisions to safeguard the national interest and security of the country, and according to the former External Affairs Minister of India, Late Sushma Swaraj, both nations have also agreed to work to facilitate India’s introduction into the Nuclear Suppliers Group.

The signing of COMCASA can be considered a milestone in regards to improving and enhancing India’s defence mechanism, as it can help India in a number of ways. The very basis of this agreement is that both countries can mutually share high-end encrypted satellite data. For instance, if a Chinese warship or any war-based vehicle as such enters the Indian periphery, whether in the form of an aircraft or a warship, and the US military system is able to detect the same, it will immediately send the information to the Indian Navy via transmission of secure encrypted data. This can definitely help India avoid unfortunate events like the Mumbai terror attack, where the terrorists used the waterways to reach India. In fact, the US data link is considered to be one of the most secure communication modes, giving India not only access to the huge data base of American intelligence but also real-time images. The signing of this agreement also means that the United States will now be able to install the best communication equipment in the aircraft or other defence-related vehicles sold to India. With the signing of COMCASA, India can now also obtain armed versions of Sea Guardian Drones, along with the installation of a data and communication system.

The signing of this agreement will also pave the way for enhanced cooperation between America’s Defence Innovation Unit and the Indian Defence Innovation Organisation, alongside the setting of hotlines between India’s External Affairs Minister and the US Secretary of State and also between the US Defence Secretary and India’s Defence Minister. Although the crown jewel of the ‘2+2’ talk was the signing of the COMCASA agreement, the same was not that easy, as India had to overcome significant internal resistance before entering this foundational military pact.

India’s military force is one of the strongest in the world, and the agreement with the US will further enhance its credibility. But the nation often faces critical defence-related issues as it has to counter threats coming in, especially from two countries, namely, China and Pakistan. India and China’s conflict revolves around the Macartney-Macdonald line and the Johnson line, as a result of which both countries have often encountered war-like situations, including the infamous Sino-Indian War of 1962. After China already got hold of around 38,000 sq km of territory in Akshai Chin, it has not ceased to display its expansionist mindset, still trying to get hold of some parts of the state of Arunachal Pradesh in Northeast India. The security forces of both countries were again engaged in a deadly clash on December 9, 2020.

Similar is the case with Pakistan as well, where both countries have engaged in wars and war-like situations many times. Some parts of the state of Kashmir have always been one of the significant reasons behind the clashes between India and Pakistan. Back in 2019, the two countries were once again seen involving themselves in a war-like situation with one another. Moreover, terrorist groups presumably from Pakistan have also caused a lot of disturbance in India, be it the hijacking of Indian Airlines Flight 814 on December 24, 1999, the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, or the Mumbai Attack of 2008, to name a few.

As such, the signing of COMCASA along with the other three pacts with the US can help the Indian government counter the unpredictable incoming threats from these countries to a large extent. The COMCASA will also extensively help the Indian Intelligence system with the highly encrypted satellite data, thereby giving enough time for the security forces to eradicate the threat at its roots before it explodes to harm the common civilians. Therefore, the signing of these agreements between the countries not only enhances India’s security system but also highlights the growing relations and diplomacy between India and the US, which, if sustained properly, can benefit India in different ways in the future.