Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: India and the United States on October 31, 2025 inked a 10-year defence framework agreement, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh describing it as a “signal” of growing strategic convergence between the two nations. The pact was sealed at a meeting in Kuala Lumpur between Singh and his American counterpart Peter Hegseth.
The firming up of the pact came amid efforts by the two sides to repair ties that came under severe strain following Washington’s slapping of 50% tariffs on Indian goods.
“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,” Singh said on X, formerly Twitter, after talks with Hegseth.
The Defence Minister said the pact will provide policy direction in the entire spectrum of the India-U.S. defence relationship. “It is a signal of our growing strategic convergence and will herald a new decade of partnership,” he said. “Defence will remain as a major pillar of our bilateral relations. Our partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region,” Singh added.
Hegseth said the agreement “advances our defence partnership, a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence.” He added, “We’re enhancing our coordination, info sharing, and tech cooperation. Our defense ties have never been stronger. ”
This is the third such framework between India and the US; earlier agreements were signed in 2005, second in 2015. Each one has added a layer to cooperation.
According to defence sources, the agreement enables both nations to utilize each other’s bases, maintenance facilities, and logistics networks, facilitating faster operational cooperation and deployment.
By strengthening military interoperability and intelligence sharing, the pact aligns with India’s Act East Policy and the US’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, emphasizing regional stability and freedom of navigation.
