The United States and India have entered into a landmark 10-year defence framework agreement aimed at deepening military cooperation, sharing intelligence, and advancing defence technology collaboration. The deal was formally announced by US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday following his meeting with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
Hegseth took to X to highlight the significance of the agreement, describing it as a major step toward bolstering regional stability and deterrence. “We’re enhancing our coordination, information sharing, and technological cooperation. Our defence ties have never been stronger,” he wrote, emphasizing the shared commitment of both nations to maintaining security in the Indo-Pacific region.
Rajnath Singh also confirmed the development, calling the 10-year pact a “new era” in the already strong defence partnership between India and the US. He stated that the framework would provide strategic direction to the entire spectrum of defence relations between the two democracies, underlining their shared vision for peace and stability. “This Defence Framework will guide our cooperation for the next decade and reflects our growing strategic alignment. Defence remains a cornerstone of our bilateral relations, vital for a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific,” Singh wrote on X.
The agreement was finalized during the ASEAN-India Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The timing of the signing underscores the two nations’ commitment to greater defence collaboration in a region increasingly shaped by shifting power dynamics.
Analysts believe the framework will serve as a comprehensive roadmap for long-term cooperation, encompassing joint exercises, advanced technology exchange, maritime security, and counterterrorism initiatives. The pact is expected to streamline policy-level coordination, strengthen interoperability between the armed forces, and open avenues for co-development of defence technologies.
By formalizing this decade-long defence framework, New Delhi and Washington have reaffirmed their strategic partnership as a central pillar of regional security and global peacekeeping efforts.
