New Delhi, Dec 9 (IANS): The Modi government has taken yet another step in "entangling India in a military alliance with the US", the CPI-M said on Friday.

"The terms for India being accorded the status of a Major Defence Partner of the US has been finalised during the visit of US Secretary of Defence Asthon Carter," the Communist Party of India-Marxist said.

"The status of a Major Defence Partner is equivalent to that of the close 
military allies of the US such as Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Japan and South Korea," it said in a statement.

"Coming in the wake of the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement 
(LEMOA), this new agreement will further encroach upon India's sovereignty 
and strategic autonomy."

The CPI-M said it was strongly opposed to such military collaborations.

"The Modi government has not made the text of these agreement public," it said. 

"It is imperative that these agreements which have vital implications for India's national interests and sovereignty be made available to the people."