India-US: In an effort to strengthen their defense and security cooperation, Bharat and the US inked a 10-year defense framework agreement on Friday. In the presence of United State Secretary of War Peter Hegseth and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, the agreement was signed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
This comes days after United State Secretary of State Marco Rubio and External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar met in Kuala Lumpur for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.
Singh said that the agreement will mark a new chapter in the “already strong defense partnership” between the United States and Bharat. Singh posted a photo of himself with Hegseth on X, previously Twitter, and said that the defense framework would provide policy guidance for all aspects of the Bharat-United State relationship.
The defense minister said, “It is a signal of our growing strategic convergence and will herald a new decade of partnership.” “One of the primary pillars of our bilateral ties will continue to be defense. A free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific area depends on our collaboration. ”
Had a fruitful meeting with my US counterpart @SecWar Peter Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur. 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.
This Defence Framework will provide policy… pic.twitter.com/IEP6Udg9Iw
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 31, 2025
Hegseth said that the United States and India’s defense connections “have never been stronger” and that the two nations are improving their tech collaboration, coordination, and information sharing.
“I just met with @rajnathsingh to sign a 10-year U.S.-Bharat Defense Framework,” he wrote on X. “This advances our defense partnership, a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence.”
I just met with @rajnathsingh to sign a 10-year U.S.-India Defense Framework.
This advances our defense partnership, a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence.
We're enhancing our coordination, info sharing, and tech cooperation. Our defense ties have never been… pic.twitter.com/hPmkZdMDv2
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) October 31, 2025
Notably, the defense accord was signed at a time when President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs have damaged relations between the united state and Bharat. Trump first used the trade deficit to levy a 25% tax. In response to India’s choice to purchase Russian oil, he later levied an extra 25% surcharge.
The Modi administration has pledged to safeguard the nation’s interests, although Bharat has criticized the levies.
