Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth met in Kuala Lumpur to formalise a ten-year Defence Framework Agreement, marking a significant step in strengthening India-US strategic and defence cooperation. The agreement, signed in the presence of senior officials from both nations, lays out a long-term roadmap for military collaboration, capacity building, and joint projects across the Indo-Pacific region. Singh described the signing as the start of a “new chapter” in bilateral defence ties.
Rajnath Singh Hails ‘New Chapter’
Speaking after the signing of the agreement, Singh said, “We have held telephonic conversations thrice. I am delighted to be meeting you in person on the sidelines of ADMM-Plus. On this occasion, I feel a new chapter will begin today with the signing of the Defence Framework. I am confident that under your leadership, India-US relations will further strengthen.”
Hegseth, expressing appreciation for the partnership, described the agreement as a defining moment in the evolving relationship between New Delhi and Washington. “I want to express gratitude to Minister Singh for the partnership we have with India. It’s one of the most consequential US-India relationships in the world. Our strategic alignment is built on shared interests, on mutual trust and commitment to a secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
Singh also shared about his interaction with Hegseth on X. “Had a fruitful meeting with my US counterpart @SecWar Peter Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur. We signed the 10 years ‘Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership’. This will usher in a new era in our already strong defence partnership,” he wrote.
He added that this Defence Framework will provide policy direction to the entire spectrum of the India-US Defence Relationship. Singh called it a signal of India’s growing strategic convergence and expressed hope that it would herald a new decade of partnership. “Defence will remain as a major pillar of our bilateral relations. Our partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific region,” he added in the X post.
ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus)
The engagement between the two leaders took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Malaysia. Singh is leading the Indian delegation. Notably, India and Malaysia currently serve as co-chairs of the Experts’ Working Group on Counter Terrorism for 2024-2027.
