India and US Sign 10-Year Defence Framework Agreement

Kuala Lumpur, October 31, 2025 – India and the United States have signed a 10-year Defence Framework Agreement, marking a new phase in their strategic and defence cooperation. The pact was exchanged between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the ASEAN–India Defence Ministers’ Informal Meeting held in Kuala Lumpur.

Key Highlights of the Agreement

• Duration: 10 years (2025–2035).
• Purpose: Provides long-term policy direction for the U.S.–India Major Defence Partnership, strengthening military cooperation and strategic engagement.
• Scope: Covers the entire spectrum of defence relations, including:
  • Joint research, development, and co-production of defence technologies.
  • Enhanced military-to-military cooperation and interoperability.
  • Expanded collaboration in emerging domains such as cyber, space, and artificial intelligence.

Strategic Context

• The agreement reinforces the Major Defence Partnership (MDP) framework, first formalized in 2016, and aligns with the shared vision for a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific region.
• It builds on existing agreements like LEMOA (Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement), COMCASA (Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement), and BECA (Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement).

Diplomatic Context

• The meeting took place amid ongoing U.S.–India trade negotiations, following tensions arising from President Donald Trump’s decision to double tariffs on India over its continued imports of Russian oil.
• Despite trade frictions, the new defence framework underscores both countries’ commitment to deepening strategic and security ties in the Indo-Pacific.