Post by : Rameen Ariff

India and the United States have inked a landmark 10-year framework agreement aimed at deepening defence sector collaboration, a move hailed as a major step in strengthening bilateral strategic ties. The agreement was finalised during a “fruitful” meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, between India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday.

Defence Minister Singh emphasized that the pact will guide policies across all aspects of the India-US defence partnership. He described the agreement as a “signal” of growing strategic alignment between the two nations and a cornerstone for a new decade of cooperation. “Defence will remain a major pillar of our bilateral relations. Our partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region,” Singh said.

Hegseth echoed Singh’s sentiments, saying, “This advances our defence partnership, a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence. We’re enhancing our coordination, information sharing, and technology cooperation. Our defence ties have never been stronger.”

The agreement comes amid ongoing trade tensions, following US President Donald Trump’s imposition of a 50% tariff on Indian goods in response to New Delhi’s continued imports of Russian oil. Despite this, both nations have demonstrated a commitment to maintaining and strengthening defence and security cooperation.

The pact aligns with the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) framework, which serves as the top consultative platform for regional security cooperation. The ADMM-Plus brings together ASEAN member states—Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam—alongside eight dialogue partners, including India, the US, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

Prior to the meeting, Singh had highlighted that India’s engagement with ASEAN aims to further strengthen defence and security cooperation under its ‘Act East Policy.’

Meanwhile, China urged the United States to “enhance trust and dispel uncertainty” during parallel discussions between Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun and Hegseth. The Chinese delegation emphasized building military trust and exploring avenues for cooperation, underscoring regional sensitivities, particularly concerning Taiwan.

The 10-year India-US defence framework is expected to pave the way for enhanced joint exercises, intelligence sharing, technology transfers, and strategic coordination, reinforcing a robust partnership in the Indo-Pacific amid growing geopolitical challenges.

This historic agreement marks a significant milestone in India-US relations, reflecting a mutual commitment to security, technological collaboration, and a stable regional order.

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