New Delhi / Kuala Lumpur, 1 November 2025 –
In a significant move to strengthen their strategic partnership, India and the United States today signed a 10-year defence framework agreement. The pact was formalised during the regional defence ministers’ meeting in Malaysia when Rajnath Singh and Pete Hegseth exchanged the document.
Under this landmark deal, the two nations will *share military-intelligence information, expand *defence-technology cooperation, and ramp up defence‐manufacturing in India.
Key Highlights
- The agreement formally commits both countries for the next decade in defence cooperation.
- It includes *information sharing, *technology transfer, and building India’s defence manufacturing base.
- The signing came at the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting‑Plus in Kuala Lumpur.
- U.S. officials described the pact as a “cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence.”
Why this matters
This agreement marks a new era in India-US defence ties. With the Indo-Pacific region undergoing rapid strategic shifts, both nations see this as a way to build a more resilient partnership. Rajnath Singh called it a “new chapter” in the bilateral defence relationship.
For India, the deal offers a chance to deepen indigenous defence production and reduce reliance on foreign platforms. For the U.S., it reinforces India as a key partner in the region.
What to watch
- How jointly-manufactured defence systems will be developed in India.
- The pace of technology transfers and how India’s defence-industry ecosystem responds.
- Implementation of expanded intelligence and logistic cooperation.
- The reaction of other players in the region to the strengthened India-US defence bond.