New Delhi (NVI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Japanese counterpart, Shinzo Abe, during a telephonic conversation today, welcomed the signing of the agreement for Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services and said it would promote closer cooperation between defence forces on the ground.
India and Japan yesterday signed a key agreement – Reciprocal Provision of Supplies and Services – between the Indian Armed Forces and the Self-Defense Forces of Japan, which is expected to drive closer military cooperation and contribute to regional security.
The Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA) between Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and India’s armed forces was signed by Japanese ambassador Satoshi Suzuki and defence secretary Ajay Kumar in New Delhi.
The agreement will cover the reciprocal provision of supplies and services during joint exercises and training missions, UN peacekeeping operations, humanitarian relief operations, operations to cope with disasters in the territory of both parties or a third country, and evacuation of nationals of India and Japan from overseas in exigencies.
The supplies and services covered by the pact include food, water, transportation, including airlift, petroleum, clothing, communications and medical services, use of facilities, spares and components, and repair and maintenance services.
The agreement will remain in force for 10 years and will be automatically extended for periods of 10 years unless one of the parties decides to end it.
India has similar agreements with the US, Australia, France, Oman and Singapore.
Furthermore, the two leaders reviewed the status of ongoing cooperation, including the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, under the framework of the India-Japan Special Strategic & Global Partnership.
Both the Prime Ministers also expressed appreciation for the support provided to resident citizens in each other’s countries during the COVID-19 pandemic and agreed that such efforts must be continued to sustain the strong people-to-people ties between the two countries.
PM Abe, while explaining his decision to step down, expressed “gratitude for the friendship and the relationship of trust” built with Modi and noted the memories from their mutual annual visits. Modi expressed his appreciation for all the efforts by Abe and recalled the time they spent together.
In addition to this, the two leaders made it clear that the change of leadership in Japan wouldn’t affect the overall arc of bilateral relations.
-CHK
