India and the US have signed a landmark 10-year defence framework agreement to shore up long-term security cooperation. The deal was sealed during a meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The agreement, inked on the sidelines of the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus, or ADMM-Plus, is designed to guide defense cooperation in areas such as technology, intelligence, and joint military exercises.
A New Decade of Strategic Cooperation
The pact, officially called the Framework for the U.S.-India Major Defence Partnership, will shape policy decisions and military engagement for the next ten years.
Rajnath Singh called the agreement a “signal of growing strategic convergence” between New Delhi and Washington. He said it marks the start of a new era in bilateral defence cooperation.
“Defence will remain a major pillar of our bilateral relations,” Singh said. “Our partnership is vital for ensuring a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.”
Pete Hegseth described India as a “priority partner” of the United States. He added that the new framework fortifies regional stability and deterrence.
“We’re improving coordination, information sharing, and technology cooperation. Our defence ties have never been stronger,” Hegseth said in a post on X.
Trade tensions shadow the agreement
The deal was announced against the backdrop of increasing trade tensions between the two nations. In recent weeks, US President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian products. The president justified the move as a response to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
Despite the friction, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to defence cooperation. The Ministry of Defence said the framework would provide policy direction and continuity for future military and industrial collaboration.
Officials added that the pact would help expand joint production, intelligence exchange, and strategic coordination with regional partners.
The ASEAN Defence Meet: A Regional Platform
The signing took place during the ADMM-Plus-the top defence consultation forum under the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN.
The platform brings together the ten member states of ASEAN and its eight dialogue partners, including India, the US, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.
Rajnath Singh’s participation reflected India’s priority in strengthening defence ties under the ‘Act East Policy’. During the talks, both sides reviewed the ongoing military engagements and discussed new areas of defence technology cooperation.
The meeting also featured a delegation-level discussion between Singh and Hegseth, which was succeeded by a one-on-one session.
China Appeals for ‘Trust’ as Power Rivalry Deepens
Meanwhile, Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun met with Hegseth at the same summit. According to Beijing’s readout, Dong urged the US to “enhance trust and dispel uncertainty.”
The meeting came a day after Trump and Xi Jinping of China held talks in South Korea. Dong reiterated China’s stance on Taiwan, calling unification an “irresistible historical trend.”
The exchange reflected the evolution of geopolitical contestation in the Indo-Pacific, where both India and the US seek to maintain a free and open regional order.
Looking Ahead: Stability Through Partnership
According to analysts, the new framework will enable both countries to look beyond immediate tensions and address larger strategic interests.
The Ministry of Defence said the agreement provides structure and stability to transform the partnership over the next decade.
“This framework will guide policy and expand our cooperation across the defence spectrum,” the ministry said.
Both sides hope the agreement will promote joint production, research, and intelligence sharing. The move also comes as a part of India’s ambitions to emerge as a global defence manufacturing hub under the Make in India initiative. With global rivalries getting sharper, the India-US defence partnership now stands as a pillar of stability in the Indo-Pacific. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5y0qz701xeo
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