KUALA LUMPUR: India and the United States have signed a framework agreement to expand defense cooperation over the next decade, marking a significant deepening of strategic ties between the two nations.

The pact was announced following a meeting in Kuala Lumpur between US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh.

According to Hegseth, the agreement will boost coordination, information sharing, and technological cooperation, while advancing regional stability and deterrence.

Singh described the deal as a demonstration of growing strategic convergence, posting on X that it will herald a new decade of partnership, with defense remaining a major pillar of bilateral relations.

“Our partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region,” Singh added.
The agreement comes amid ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries and follows tensions when US President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on India, including a 25% penalty related to India’s purchase of Russian oil and arms.

According to Pramit Pal Chaudhuri of the Eurasia Group think tank, the pact had been expected in July–August 2025 but was delayed due to India’s irritation at Trump’s public remarks about his role in resolving conflicts with Pakistan.

Chaudhuri noted that the agreement builds on a series of prior arrangements that have facilitated military interoperability, technology access for India, and collaboration between the two defense sectors, providing scope for further advancement in all three areas.

In recent years, India-US defense ties have been steadily increasing, with defense a key focus during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US earlier this year.

During the visit, Trump pledged billions of dollars in military equipment sales and indicated potential sales of F-35 stealth warplanes to India.

However, Delhi’s reliance on discounted Russian oil and its long-standing defense relationship with Moscow have remained points of friction for Washington.

While Russia remains a major supplier of arms, its share of Indian defense imports has declined as India seeks diversification and boosts domestic capacity.

In recent months, India has signaled willingness to increase energy and defense purchases from the US, coinciding with high-stakes trade talks aimed at finalizing a long-awaited deal by November 2025.