In a significant move signaling a major strategic alignment, the United States and India signed a comprehensive 10-year Defence Framework on Friday, a pact hailed by US officials as a "cornerstone for regional stability."
The agreement was announced by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who revealed the milestone following a meeting with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The signing took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN-India Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Taking to the social media platform X, Secretary Hegseth declared that the two nations’ “defence ties have never been stronger.” He elaborated that the new framework is designed to significantly advance the bilateral defence partnership, which he described as ambitious and critical for the future.
"This agreement advances the India-US defence partnership, which is a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence," stated Hegseth, who heads the Department of War (previously known as the Department of Defence). "We're enhancing our coordination, info sharing, and tech cooperation."
The new 10-year framework is positioned as a foundational document that lays down a strategic roadmap for the coming decade. It is expected to guide military-to-military relations, enhance interoperability, and foster deeper collaboration in defense technology and information sharing.
Following the signing, Secretary Hegseth expressed his gratitude to Minister Singh, emphasizing the global importance of the relationship. "It's one of those consequential US-India relationships in the world," he said. "Our strategic alignment is built on shared interests, on mutual trust and commitment to a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific Region."
He described the framework as marking a critical step for both militaries, laying down a "roadmap for deeper and even more meaningful collaboration ahead." In a clear message about the long-term nature of the partnership, Hegseth added, "It underscores America's long-term commitment for our shared security and our strong partnership."
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