Kuala Lumpur: India and the United States on Friday signed a landmark 10-year framework to strengthen their bilateral defence cooperation, marking a major milestone in the evolving strategic partnership between the two nations. The agreement was signed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus in Malaysia’s Kuala Lumpur.
The new pact, titled ‘Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership,’ aims to deepen policy coordination, technology sharing, and military collaboration between the two countries. The development comes as New Delhi navigates a complex diplomatic landscape — balancing trade negotiations with Washington, managing ties with Moscow, and countering China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific.
Announcing the agreement on X, Rajnath Singh said, “Had a fruitful meeting with my US counterpart. We signed the 10-year ‘Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership’. This will usher in a new era in our already strong defence partnership.” He added that the framework would guide the entire spectrum of the India-US defence relationship and reinforce the commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.
Hegseth echoed the sentiment, calling the agreement a “cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence.” He said, “The India-US defence ties have never been stronger. We’re enhancing our coordination, information sharing, and technology cooperation.”
The agreement also signifies growing strategic convergence between the two countries amid increasing regional tensions. China’s expanding military footprint — from building naval bases to pressing its maritime claims — has heightened security concerns in the Indo-Pacific.
Last year, India and the US had already signed a logistics agreement to ensure the mutual supply of defence goods and services and address supply chain disruptions in times of crisis. The new framework builds on that foundation, offering a long-term structure for cooperation across defence industries, joint exercises, and strategic planning.
The pact underscores the strengthening of India-US defence relations as both nations seek to safeguard peace, prosperity, and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
