Strengthening their strategic convergence, India and the United States have resolved to sign a new 10-year defence framework later this year, aimed at broadening military and industrial cooperation between the two nations.
The decision was confirmed in a Pentagon statement issued on Wednesday, a day after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth held a telephone conversation.
“Secretary Hegseth and Minister Singh agreed to sign the next 10-year US-India Defence Framework when they next meet this year,” the statement said, underscoring Washington’s growing emphasis on New Delhi as a key defence partner in South Asia.
Both sides reviewed progress under the defence commitments outlined in the February 2025 joint declaration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. The statement added, “The two discussed pending major US defence sales to India and the imperative of close defence industrial cooperation between the two countries.”
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Singh, during the call, urged Hegseth to expedite the delivery of GE F404 engines, which are essential for HAL’s delivery of the Tejas Mark 1A fighter jets to the Indian Air Force. The minister also pressed for swift finalisation of the proposed deal between Hindustan Aeronautics Limited and GE Aerospace for joint production of the F414 jet engine.
The Indian Defence Ministry’s version of the conversation highlighted the breadth of the discussion, which included future military exchanges, integration of defence supply chains, and increasing cooperation with like-minded partners.
“They agreed to further build upon the momentum of this critical and mutually beneficial partnership across all its pillars such as interoperability, integration of defence industrial supply chains, logistics sharing, increased joint military exercises and cooperation with other like-minded partners,” the ministry said.
The renewed framework is expected to elevate defence ties beyond procurement, focusing on co-production, strategic alignment, and interoperability
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