US–India Seal Decade-Long Defence Pact, Washington Calls It Cornerstone of Regional Stability
The United States has hailed its newly concluded 10-year defence partnership framework with India as a decisive step in reinforcing regional stability and deterrence, marking a new phase in the rapidly expanding strategic relationship between New Delhi and Washington.
Describing the agreement as a “cornerstone” of security architecture in the Indo-Pacific, US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said the pact reflects unprecedented depth in bilateral military cooperation and strategic trust.
The agreement, officially titled the US–India Major Defence Partnership Framework, was signed on October 31, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur.
India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Hegseth inked the framework on the sidelines of a high-level regional security engagement, underscoring the growing convergence between the two democracies on defence, technology, and strategic outlook.
This advances our defence partnership, a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence.
We are enhancing coordination, information-sharing, and technology cooperation. Our defence ties have never been stronger,” Hegseth said, signalling Washington’s confidence in India’s role as a key security partner.
What the Agreement Covers
Officials familiar with the framework said it lays out a long-term roadmap for defence collaboration, encompassing:
- Enhanced military-to-military coordination and joint planning
- Expanded intelligence and information-sharing mechanisms
- Deeper cooperation in emerging and advanced defence technologies, including next-generation systems
- Greater alignment in operational readiness and interoperability
The pact builds on years of expanding defence engagement—joint exercises, logistics agreements, and technology partnerships—and formalises them into a structured, forward-looking framework.
A Signal of Strategic Continuity
The 10-year duration of the agreement is being widely interpreted as a signal of durability and continuity, designed to insulate defence cooperation from political transitions in either country.
Analysts say this long horizon reflects a shared understanding that strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific are structural and long-term.
By committing to a decade-long framework, both sides aim to provide predictability to defence planners, industry partners, and armed forces, allowing cooperation to mature beyond episodic engagements.
Indo-Pacific Context
The timing of the pact is significant. Asia is witnessing heightened geopolitical competition, contested maritime spaces, and rapid military modernisation.
Against this backdrop, the US sees India as a central pillar of stability in the Indo-Pacific, while India views deeper engagement with Washington as a means to enhance its own defence capabilities without compromising strategic autonomy.
Officials stressed that the framework is not aimed at any single country, but at strengthening deterrence, resilience, and a rules-based order in the region.
Strategic Implications
Security experts note that the agreement:
- Reinforces India’s status as a major defence partner of the US
- Strengthens deterrence through coordination rather than confrontation
- Signals growing trust in sensitive areas,s such as technology sharing
- Positions India as a critical node in regional security cooperation
As defence ties reach new heights, the framework is expected to shape the trajectory of US–India relations well into the next decade, anchoring cooperation amid an increasingly uncertain global security environment.
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