New Delhi: In a major strategic development, the United States and India have formalised a landmark 10-year defence cooperation framework, a move described by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth as underscoring a partnership “that has never been stronger”.
Hegseth said that the agreement — signed in New Delhi during a meeting with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh — advances the India-US defence partnership, calling it “a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence”. He added that the framework paves the way for enhanced coordination, information sharing, and technological cooperation between the two militaries.
The agreement was concluded on Friday against the backdrop of the second edition of the ASEAN‑India Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting‑Plus (ADMM-Plus). India has leveraged those regional engagements to advance its “Act East” policy and strengthen ties with Southeast Asian nations.
The new decade-long framework signals the two democracies’ commitment to long-term security collaboration. Hegseth described the pact as “ambitious” and said it lays down a “roadmap for deeper and even more meaningful collaboration ahead”. On the Indian side, the agreement comes amidst broader US-India engagement, including ongoing trade talks and discussions over tariffs related to India’s oil purchases from Russia.
As both countries navigate a shifting Indo-Pacific security environment, analysts say this framework could mark a milestone, offering institutionalised structures for partnership in areas from defence manufacturing to joint operations and emerging-technologies coordination.
