Rajnath Singh, US War Secretary Hegseth Sign 10-Year ‘Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership’

Kuala Lumpur — In a major step toward strengthening defence cooperation, India and the United States on Friday signed a 10-year “Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership”, marking a new chapter in the strategic relationship between the two countries.

The agreement was signed following a bilateral meeting between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur, on the sidelines of the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), which begins on November 1.

“Had a fruitful meeting with my US counterpart Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur. We signed the 10-year ‘Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership’. This will usher in a new era in our already strong defence partnership,” Singh posted on X after the meeting.

He added that the agreement would serve as a policy guide for the entire spectrum of India–US defence relations, calling it a signal of the two nations’ growing strategic alignment.

“This Defence Framework will provide policy direction to the entire spectrum of the India-US Defence Relationship. It is a signal of our growing strategic convergence and will herald a new decade of partnership,” Singh wrote.

The Defence Minister underlined that defence cooperation remains a central pillar of India–US ties and is vital for maintaining a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.

Echoing similar sentiments, Hegseth said the agreement would further enhance coordination and technological collaboration between the two countries.

“I just met with Rajnath Singh to sign a 10-year US-India Defence Framework. This advances our defence partnership — a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence. We’re enhancing our coordination, information sharing, and tech cooperation. Our defence ties have never been stronger,” Hegseth posted on X.

Singh arrived in Malaysia on Thursday for a two-day visit to attend the ADMM-Plus, where he was received at the Subang Airbase by India’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, B.N. Reddy.

The 12th ADMM-Plus will bring together defence ministers from ASEAN member states and eight dialogue partners — India, the US, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand — to discuss regional security cooperation.

Rajnath Singh is scheduled to address the forum on the theme “Reflection on 15 Years of ADMM-Plus and Charting the Way Forward.” During his visit, he will also hold a series of bilateral meetings with defence ministers and senior leaders from other participating nations.

With inputs from IANS