India and the United States have agreed to sign a new 10-year defence partnership agreement, which is a significant breakthrough in bilateral military cooperation. The development came after a telephonic conversation between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his American counterpart Pete Hegseth on Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Colonel Chris Devine said.
On 1 July, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth had a call with India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. Secretary Hegseth reinforced the significance of India as a vital US defence partner in South Asia,” Colonel Devine said.
Defence Leaders To Finalise Long-Term Framework
Rajnath Singh and Hegseth covered developments on defence objectives listed in the joint statement of US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, published in February 2025. The two leaders also touched on outstanding US defence sales to India and underscored the importance of enhanced defence industrial cooperation.
“Secretary Hegseth and Minister Singh pledged to sign the subsequent 10-year US-India defence framework when they sit down later this year,” Devine also said. Though officials have not yet confirmed the meeting date, both sides hope the agreement will further strengthen strategic coordination.
Hegseth, Jaishankar Discuss Regional Security and Defence Tech
Earlier in the day, Hegseth had a meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the Pentagon. The talks were wide-ranging and touched on issues of regional security in the Asia-Pacific, defence cooperation, and policy on advanced technology.
Both leaders looked forward to the forthcoming INDUS-X Summit, a high-level bilateral defence technology conference, and the formation of the Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA), designed to advance innovation on autonomous defence technologies.
US-India Defence Cooperation Spreads Momentum
The US Defence Department recognised the solid ground established by Trump and Modi in defending American defence relations. Hegseth referred to the relationship as “productive, pragmatic and realistic.”
He said the US is pleased with the integration of American defence systems into India’s military and expressed hope about securing more major defence deals, deepening co-production, and improving interoperability between the two countries’ armed forces.
Jaishankar reaffirmed India’s resolve for the partnership. “We think that our defence partnership is perhaps one of the most significant pillars of the relationship. It’s not constructed solely on common interests, but on intensifying convergence of capabilities and responsibilities,” he remarked, underscoring Indo-Pacific cooperation.
Both countries will also join the upcoming India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem Summit to pursue greater cooperation in the defence sector and encourage technological innovation.
