India and the United States have agreed to sign a new 10-year US-India Defence Framework by the end of this year, US Senior Defence Spokesperson Colonel Chris Devine has said.
According to a statement from the Pentagon, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh agreed during a phone conversation on Tuesday to finalise and sign the new framework when they meet later this year.
In a post on X, Rajnath Singh said, “Glad to speak with the US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth today. Excellent discussion to review the ongoing and new initiatives to further deepen the India-US defence partnership and strengthen cooperation in capacity building. Conveyed my deep appreciation for the unwavering support extended by the US to India in its fight against terrorism. Looking forward to meeting him at an early date.”
During the conversation, Secretary Hegseth underlined the priority the United States places on India as its key defence partner in South Asia.
Both leaders reviewed the significant progress the two nations have made toward achieving the defence objectives set out in the February 2025 joint statement by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi.
“On July 1, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth spoke with India’s Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh. Secretary Hegseth emphasized the priority the United States places on India as its key defence partner in South Asia. Secretary Hegseth and Minister Singh reviewed the considerable progress both countries have made toward achieving the defence goals set out in the February 2025 joint statement by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi. The two discussed pending major US defence sales to India and the importance of close defence industrial cooperation between the two countries,” the Pentagon statement said.
Following the call, India’s Ministry of Defence said in an official statement that the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including long-term cooperation in the defence sector, training and military exchanges, and expanding industrial collaboration. They agreed to build further momentum in this critical and mutually beneficial partnership, covering areas such as interoperability, integration of defence industrial supply chains, logistics sharing, increased joint military exercises, and cooperation with other like-minded partners.
— ANI
