In a major step towards strengthening bilateral defence ties, India and the United States have signed a 10-year defence cooperation agreement. The pact was announced after a meeting between US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Kuala Lumpur.
According to Hegseth, the agreement will enhance coordination, information sharing, and technology cooperation, and promote regional stability and deterrence.
The deal comes at a time when the two countries are trying to resolve trade tensions, following US President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on India, including a 25% penalty for purchasing Russian oil and arms.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said the pact marks a new decade of partnership and reflects the strategic convergence between the two democracies.
“Our partnership is vital for ensuring a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific region,” Singh posted on X.
Analysts say the agreement was delayed due to India’s displeasure over Trump’s comments on his role in reducing tensions with Pakistan.
Pramit Pal Chaudhuri of the Eurasia Group said this pact will make it easier for both countries to share defence technology, improve interoperability, and boost cooperation between their defence industries.
The new agreement adds to a series of defence deals that have deepened India-US military relations over the past decade.
During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US earlier this year, President Trump had announced plans to increase arms sales to India, including discussions on F-35 stealth fighter jets.
However, trade and energy differences — particularly India’s import of Russian oil — have strained ties in recent months. Despite that, India has indicated that it is open to expanding energy and defence purchases from the US as part of efforts to diversify its defence sources.
The two nations are now engaged in high-level trade talks and are expected to reach a comprehensive trade deal by November 2025.
