India and the United States have signed a landmark 10-year Defence Framework Agreement, marking the beginning of a “new chapter” in their strategic collaboration. The agreement, signed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, is intended to provide a unified vision and policy direction for deepening bilateral ties over the next decade. This pact significantly advances the US-India Major Defence Partnership, which both nations consider a cornerstone for ensuring a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region amid increasing geopolitical complexities.
The new framework prioritizes strengthening military collaboration and technology sharing across all domains, including land, air, sea, space, and cyberspace. Key initiatives include enhancing military interoperability, streamlining processes for technology cooperation and co-production under India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, and supporting India’s development as a regional logistics and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) hub. Specific technology cooperation projects already underway include the co-manufacture of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), or advanced drones, for the Indian Armed Forces.The agreement sets the stage for India to gain increased access to advanced US defense technologies, such as advanced drones, radar systems, and potentially next-generation fighter jets. Minister Singh emphasized that defense will remain the major pillar of the bilateral relationship, signaling a growing strategic convergence between New Delhi and Washington despite ongoing trade and tariff disputes.
