U.S., India Increase Maritime Military Cooperation on Indian Ocean

Agency Report/

A bilateral pact called Maritime Information Sharing Technical Arrangement (MISTA) has been signed by the U.S. and Indian navies to share maritime military intelligence and enhance situational awareness in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

NewsmakersNG learnt that the pact has laid down the protocols for the exchange of information in real time.

India has also signed ‘white shipping agreements with no fewer than 21 countries to enhance ‘situational awareness’ in the Indian Ocean.

Concerned about increasing Chinese naval forays into its strategic backyard, India has signed a bilateral pact called Maritime Information Sharing Technical Arrangement (MISTA) with the U.S. Navy to share maritime military intelligence and enhance situational awareness in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

NewsmakersNG learnt that the pact has laid down the protocols for the exchange of information in real time.

India has also signed ‘white shipping agreements with no fewer than 21 countries to enhance ‘situational awareness’ in the Indian Ocean as the region gets more and more militarized.

The ‘white shipping’ pacts involving dynamic exchange of information on merchant ships traversing the high seas was reportedly signed with the US, UK, France, Australia, Brazil, Israel, Vietnam, Oman and Mauritius, among others.

Reports say over 100,000 ships transit through the IOR annually, accounting for 66 per cent of the world’s oil, 33 per cent of bulk cargo and 50 per cent of container shipments.

A source said, “A comprehensive maritime domain awareness through a collaborative effort among like-minded countries is key to detecting, deterring and defeating conventional and unconventional threats in the IOR.

“India plans to stitch up ‘white shipping’ pacts with 36 countries and three multi-national constructs. The MISTA with the US goes well beyond these pacts. A tool for two-way connectivity, it will make intelligence flow between the two navies smoother.”

India and the U.S. concluded MISTA in October along with the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for Geospatial Cooperation (BECA).

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