What happened
On October 31, 2025 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, signed a 10-year Defence Framework Agreement in Kuala Lumpur, marking a major step forward in the US–India Major Defence Partnership. The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the ASEAN–India Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting, aims to enhance coordination, information sharing, and technological cooperation between the two nations. Both sides hailed the deal as a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Why it matters to India
The long-term framework provides policy direction to the entire spectrum of India–US defence relations and signals the growing strategic convergence between New Delhi and Washington. Rajnath Singh called the pact a “new era” in the bilateral partnership, emphasizing its role in maintaining a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific. The agreement reinforces defence as a key pillar of India–US ties and supports India’s broader Act East Policy and ASEAN engagement.