India and the United States have established a new 10-year Defense Framework following discussions between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth in Malaysia.
On X, Pete Hegseth shared, “I just met with Rajnath Singh to sign a 10-year US-India Defense Framework. This strengthens our defense partnership, which is vital for regional stability and deterrence. We are improving our coordination, information sharing, and technological collaboration. Our defense relationship has never been stronger.”
The newly signed 10-year defense framework can be traced back to a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former US President Donald Trump at the White House in February, where this framework was identified as a significant outcome.
This agreement comes shortly after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Malaysia on October 27, where they discussed various topics, including bilateral relations, regional matters, and global challenges, underscoring the ongoing diplomatic and strategic engagement between New Delhi and Washington.
Earlier in the year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Secretary Hegseth held a phone conversation that finalized the decision regarding the defense framework. A Pentagon statement released on July 2 confirmed the talks, occurring a day after the call between the two defense officials.
During their discussions, Singh and Hegseth covered several critical topics, including outstanding major US defense sales to India and the necessity to enhance defense industrial cooperation. These conversations align with ongoing initiatives to strengthen India’s domestic defense manufacturing under the “Make in India” program.
A notable topic of conversation was the delays in delivering GE Aerospace’s F404 engines, which are essential for the Tejas Light Combat Aircraft. These delays have impacted Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)’s ability to adhere to delivery timelines for the Indian Air Force.
Additionally, Singh stressed the importance of expediting the finalization of a proposed agreement between HAL and GE Aerospace for the joint production of F414 engines in India. This collaboration is anticipated to enhance India’s indigenous defense production capabilities and lessen dependence on imports.