Kuala Lumpur [Malaysia]: In a major step towards deepening strategic ties, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Friday exchanged a landmark agreement establishing a decade-long framework for the US–India Major Defence Partnership in Kuala Lumpur.
The signing of the 10-year Defence Framework Agreement marks a pivotal moment in the evolution of bilateral defence cooperation, underscoring the growing strategic convergence between New Delhi and Washington.
Announcing the development, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth stated that defence relations between the two democracies “have never been stronger.”
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Hegseth shared that he met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and signed the new framework, describing it as a “cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence.”
He emphasized that the pact would bolster coordination, information sharing, and technology collaboration between the two countries.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also confirmed the signing on X, calling his discussions with Hegseth “fruitful.”
“Had a productive meeting with my US counterpart @PeterHegsethSec in Kuala Lumpur. We signed a 10-year ‘Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership’, which will open a new chapter in our already robust defence cooperation,” he posted.
Singh added that the framework will “provide strategic direction to the entire spectrum of the India–US defence relationship” and reflects the two nations’ “increasing strategic alignment.”
He further noted that defence will continue to be a central pillar of India–US relations and is vital for ensuring “a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.”
The meeting between Singh and Hegseth took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN–India Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, held ahead of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) scheduled for November 1.
Before departing for Malaysia, Rajnath Singh had said that the ASEAN–India meetings were aimed at “further strengthening defence and security cooperation between India and ASEAN member states” and advancing India’s Act East Policy.
The latest agreement highlights the continued momentum in India–US defence collaboration, reinforcing both nations’ shared commitment to peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific region.
