India-US defence ties get major boost with new 10-year partnership framework

In a major boost to bilateral defence cooperation, India and the United States signed a 10-year Defence Framework Agreement on Friday in Kuala Lumpur. The agreement, inked between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, formalises the framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership, marking a milestone in strategic collaboration between the two nations.

After the signing, Pete Hegseth posted on X stating the growing alignment between India and the US, “We're enhancing our coordination, info sharing, and tech cooperation. Our defense ties have never been stronger.” He described the framework as a “cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence,” signalling a deeper commitment to maintaining security in the Indo-Pacific region.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described his meeting with Hegseth as “fruitful” and noted that the 10-year framework would provide policy direction across the entire spectrum of India-US defence relations. He said the agreement underscores the countries’ growing strategic convergence and will usher in a new decade of defence partnership.

“This Defence Framework will provide policy direction to the entire spectrum of the India-US Defence Relationship. It is a signal of our growing strategic convergence and will herald a new decade of partnership,” Singh added. “Defence will remain as a major pillar of our bilateral relations.”

The meeting between Rajnath Singh and Pete Hegseth took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. The informal meeting was convened ahead of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus), scheduled to be held on November 1.