New Delhi: Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth have agreed to formalize a comprehensive 10-year framework aimed at further expanding the strategic and defense ties between India and the United States.
The development was confirmed through an official Pentagon statement issued on Wednesday, following a phone conversation between the two defense chiefs on Tuesday. The framework is expected to be signed when Singh and Hegseth meet later this year.
According to the Pentagon, both sides underscored the considerable progress made towards achieving the defense objectives set out in the February 2025 joint statement issued by US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The upcoming framework is designed to serve as a roadmap to deepen cooperation in key areas, including joint military exercises, defense industrial collaboration, logistics sharing, and enhancing interoperability.
“Secretary Hegseth emphasized the priority the United States places on India as its key defense partner in South Asia,” the Pentagon statement noted.
NEWS: U.S., India Talk 10-Year Cooperative Framework, Defense Cooperation, Shared Priorities https://t.co/sw4BJydEjV
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) July 1, 2025
The discussions between Singh and Hegseth also touched upon pending major US defense sales to India and highlighted the importance of advancing defense industrial cooperation between the two nations. Both leaders recognized that closer ties in defense manufacturing and supply chains are critical to strengthening the strategic partnership.
In particular, Singh urged Secretary Hegseth to expedite the delivery of GE F404 jet engines, which are essential for powering India’s indigenous Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA).
The delay in the supply of these engines by GE Aerospace has led Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) to miss its delivery deadlines for the Tejas Mark 1A aircraft to the Indian Air Force.
Singh also pushed for the early finalization of a proposed deal between HAL and US defense giant GE Aerospace for the joint production of F414 jet engines in India. This collaboration is seen as a crucial step in India’s push for greater self-reliance in defense manufacturing under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Both leaders agreed to build upon the current momentum and strengthen all key pillars of the India-US defense partnership. These include:
- Interoperability between the armed forces
- Integration of defense industrial supply chains
- Expanded logistics sharing agreements
- Increased frequency and scope of joint military exercises
- Greater cooperation with other like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific region
The proposed 10-year defense framework is expected to not only institutionalize defense collaboration but also send a strong message of commitment to shared security interests in the region.
