India and the United States on Friday signed a decade-long defence cooperation framework aimed at enhancing military collaboration, technology sharing, and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.
The agreement, signed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur, marks a major milestone in the evolving security partnership between the two nations.
The deal, finalised on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Defence Ministers’ meeting, underscores the countries’ shared strategic priorities in the region.
Both sides described the framework as a roadmap to guide military and policy coordination over the next 10 years, reinforcing their commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
New framework outlines long-term defence roadmap
The 10-year “Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership” provides an institutional structure for defence cooperation, replacing earlier short-term agreements that required more frequent renewals.
According to official statements, the framework will help synchronise military doctrines, expand interoperability between the armed forces, and promote joint research and innovation in defence technologies.
Rajnath Singh announced the agreement through a post on X, calling his meeting with Peter Hegseth “fruitful.”
Had a fruitful meeting with my US counterpart @SecWar Peter Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur. We signed the 10 years ‘Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership’. This will usher in a new era in our already strong defence partnership. This Defence Framework will provide policy
He stated that the framework would offer “policy direction to the entire spectrum of the India-US defence relationship,” signalling stronger bilateral engagement in key areas including maritime security, intelligence sharing, and supply chain resilience.
The new framework is positioned as a policy anchor for a range of ongoing and future defence collaborations — from joint exercises and logistics cooperation to co-development of advanced weapons and aerospace platforms.
Strengthening the Indo-Pacific security architecture
The United States has increasingly sought to align its defence partnerships in Asia to counterbalance strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
India, as a member of the Quad alliance alongside Japan, Australia, and the US, plays a critical role in maintaining regional stability and ensuring freedom of navigation in critical sea lanes.
Peter Hegseth, in his statement, described the pact as an advancement of “a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence.”
He added that both countries are “enhancing coordination, information sharing, and technology cooperation,” signalling a shift toward more operational synergy between the two militaries.
I just met with @rajnathsingh to sign a 10-year U.S.-India Defense Framework. This advances our defense partnership, a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence. We’re enhancing our coordination, info sharing, and tech cooperation. Our defense ties have never been
The agreement comes at a time of rising maritime tensions and increased Chinese activity across the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean Region.
For India, the framework reaffirms its role as a strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific while maintaining its principle of strategic autonomy.
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