Kuala Lumpur: India and the United States have signed a landmark 10-year framework agreement to expand defence cooperation, setting the stage for deeper strategic alignment and military collaboration between the two nations.
The pact was announced following a meeting between US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Kuala Lumpur. The agreement seeks to improve coordination, information sharing, and technology cooperation while promoting regional stability and deterrence.
According to officials, the framework will serve as a guiding document for the entire spectrum of India-US defence ties, including policy coordination, joint exercises, and defence technology transfers.
Rajnath Singh described the pact as a ‘signal of our growing strategic convergence’, noting that defence will remain a major pillar of the bilateral relationship. Rajnath Singh added that, “Our partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.”
Analysts say the agreement, originally expected to be concluded in mid-2025, was delayed with diplomatic friction following remarks by US President Donald Trump on his role in resolving tensions between India and Pakistan.
Pramit Pal Chaudhuri of the Eurasia Group said the deal builds on previous accords that improved interoperability between the two militaries and opened access to advanced technologies. Pramit Pal noted that, “This provides for further potential in all three areas.”
The signing comes as Washington and New Delhi work to finalise a trade deal and smooth tensions caused by Trump’s imposition of 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods and a 25 percent penalty on Russian oil and arms purchases.
Defence ties featured prominently in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US earlier this year, where Trump pledged to increase military equipment sales to India, including a possible future deal for F-35 stealth fighter jets.
While Russia remains a key arms supplier, its share of Indian defence imports has been declining as New Delhi diversifies its procurement and strengthens domestic production under the ‘Make in India’ initiative. Recent signals from India suggest openness to expanding both energy and defence purchases from the US, as the two nations look to strengthen their partnership across economic and security domains.
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