India and US Sign 10-Year Defense Framework Agreement to Deepen Partnership
India and the United States have signed a comprehensive 10-year defense framework agreement aimed at enhancing cooperation in the defense sector. The structural pact was announced by both nations as a key step toward strengthening their strategic relationship.
The agreement was signed today (Friday) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, following a meeting between US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and India’s Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh, as reported by BBC News.
Strengthening Coordination and Stability
US Defense Secretary Hegseth announced the agreement on social media platform X, stating that it will further strengthen “coordination, information sharing, and technological cooperation” between the two countries. He added that the agreement will also contribute to “regional stability and increased deterrence capability.”
This defense deal comes at a time when the two countries are engaged in sensitive trade negotiations and facing tensions due to the US imposing high tariffs on Indian goods.
• Tariff Issues: The Trump administration previously imposed a 50% tariff on Indian products. An additional 25% tariff was recently imposed due to India’s purchase of Russian crude oil and arms, bringing the total tariff on Indian goods to 50%.
A New Era in Bilateral Ties
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh echoed the significance of the agreement on X:
“We had a meeting with Secretary Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur. We signed a 10-year, large-scale India-US Defense Partnership Framework Agreement. It marks the beginning of a new era in our existing defense partnership. Defense cooperation will remain a pillar of our bilateral relations. Our partnership is crucial for a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.”
Pramit Pal Chaudhuri, an analyst at the think tank Eurasia Group, noted that the deal was originally expected in July-August but was delayed due to India’s dissatisfaction with certain comments made by President Trump regarding Pakistan. According to Chaudhuri, recent defense agreements have already increased interoperability between the two militaries, facilitated technology exchange, and created opportunities for joint ventures in defense. This new agreement opens up even more possibilities in all three areas.
Navigating Strategic Challenges
India and the US have significantly deepened their defense ties in recent years. Defense cooperation was central to the discussions during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US in February this year. At the time, Trump indicated that the US would sell several billion dollars more in military equipment to India, potentially including the F-35 stealth fighter jet.
However, the Trump administration has voiced discomfort regarding India’s reliance on Russian crude oil and its long-standing defense relationship with Moscow. While Russia remains India’s primary arms supplier, that reliance has been gradually decreasing as India seeks to boost its domestic defense industry and diversify its sources of supply.
In recent months, India has signaled a readiness to increase purchases of energy and defense products from the US. Both countries are currently engaged in high-level trade talks, aiming to finalize a long-awaited trade agreement by November.
