India and the United States have signed a 10-year framework agreement to expand defence cooperation, marking a major step in deepening strategic ties between the two countries despite ongoing trade frictions.
The pact was announced following a meeting between US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Kuala Lumpur.
Hegseth said on X that the agreement would enhance “coordination, information sharing, and tech cooperation,” while advancing “regional stability and deterrence.”
The new framework comes as both nations attempt to finalise a long-delayed trade deal and ease diplomatic strains triggered by US President Donald Trump’s imposition of 50% tariffs on Indian goods, along with a 25% penalty for New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil and weapons.
Singh described the accord as “a signal of our growing strategic convergence,” saying it would “herald a new decade of partnership” with defence cooperation remaining “a major pillar of our bilateral relations.”
“Our partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region,” he added.
According to Pramit Pal Chaudhuri of the Eurasia Group, the pact was initially expected to be signed between July and August but was delayed due to India’s displeasure over Trump’s remarks about mediating tensions with Pakistan.
Chaudhuri noted that the deal builds on a series of previous agreements that have improved military interoperability, technology access, and industrial collaboration between the two nations. “This provides for further potential in all three areas,” he said.
Defence ties have been a cornerstone of India-US relations in recent years. During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington in February, Trump pledged to boost military equipment sales to India “by many billions of dollars,” paving the way for possible future sales of F-35 stealth fighters.
However, India’s continued reliance on discounted Russian oil and long-standing defence links with Moscow have remained points of contention for Washington. While Russia remains a key supplier, its share of India’s defence imports has been steadily declining as New Delhi seeks to diversify suppliers and strengthen its domestic defence industry.
India has recently signalled its willingness to increase energy and defence purchases from the US, even as both sides push to conclude a long-awaited trade deal by November.
