Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Indian counterpart signed a landmark defense agreement on Friday aimed at expanding military and technological cooperation between Washington and New Delhi.
Mr. Hegseth and Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh met on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Ministers’ meeting in Malaysia, which serves as the primary defense cooperative platform for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
“Defense will remain as the major pillar of India-U.S. relations,” Mr. Singh said in a statement after both defense chiefs signed a 10-year defense framework aimed at “heralding a new decade of partnership.”
“Our partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open and rules-bound Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
Mr. Hegseth said the agreement between the U.S. and India will serve as a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence. The pact is intended to provide a unified vision and policy direction to deepen defense cooperation, officials said.
“We’re enhancing our coordination, info sharing, and tech cooperation. Our defense ties have never been stronger,” Mr. Hegseth said in a post on X.
Building a deeper defense partnership with India has long been a goal of both Republican and Democratic administrations in Washington. New Delhi is seen as a bulwark against China and, in recent years, has added advanced U.S. aircraft and weapons to its arsenal.
