India, US Ink Landmark 10-Year Defence Framework Pact

 

New Delhi: India and the US on Friday inked a framework agreement for cooperation in the defence sector for the next 10 years during a meeting in Kuala Lumpur between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his American counterpart Peter Hegseth, marking a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral defence cooperation between the two nations.

 

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the development in a social media post, saying, the two nations' "defence ties have never been stronger." Hegseth, in a post on X, said, "I just met with @rajnathsingh to sign a 10-year U.S.-India Defence Framework."

 

The head of the Department of War, formerly known as the Department of Defence, stated that the agreement would advance the India-US defence partnership, describing it as a "cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence."

He said, "This advances our defence partnership, a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence. We're enhancing our coordination, info sharing, and tech cooperation. Our defence ties have never been stronger."

 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also confirmed the signing of the 10-year agreement and called his meeting with Hegseth "fruitful." In a post on X, Rajanth said, "Had a fruitful meeting with my US counterpart @PeterHegsethSec in Kuala Lumpur. We signed the 10-year ‘Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership’." Singh further emphasised that the Framework "will provide policy direction to the entire spectrum of the India-US Defence Relationship."

 

"This will usher in a new era in our already strong defence partnership. 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. Defence will remain as the major pillar of our bilateral relations. Our partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open and rules-bound Indo-Pacific region," the Defence Minister said on X.

 

The meeting between Rajnath Singh and Pete Hegseth took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting in Kuala Lumpur. The informal meeting was convened ahead of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM Plus), scheduled to be held on November 1.