PM Modi, Shinzo Abe summit could kick off defence logistic support pact

Modi's annual summit meeting next week with Abe could kick off negotiations to allow Indian and Japanese military units to replenish from each other's bases, with accounts to be settled later

Underlining New Delhi’s growing strategic stakes in the Asia-Pacific, Japan could soon be the second country after the US with which India has a logistics support agreement (LSA). In New Delhi on Monday, Japan’s envoy to India Kenji Hiramatsu revealed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s annual summit meeting next week with his Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe could kick off negotiations for an LSA, which would allow Indian and Japanese military units to replenish from each other’s bases, with accounts to be settled later. 

“We are hoping to start a formal negotiation process that will enable us to sign an Acquisition and