India, US ink 10-year defence agreement to boost strategic cooperation

Rajnath Singh (right) with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth. PIC/PTI

India and the US on Friday 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. "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 said on X after talks with Hegseth.

The defence minister said the pact will provide policy direction in 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," 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." "We're enhancing our coordination, info sharing, and tech cooperation. Our defence ties have never been stronger," he added.

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