Overview
- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh signed the Framework for the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership in Kuala Lumpur on the sidelines of ADMM‑Plus.
- Hegseth said the pact advances a partnership he called vital for regional stability and deterrence, highlighting enhanced coordination, information sharing and technology cooperation.
- Indian statements described the agreement as providing policy direction across the defense relationship and ushering in a new era in bilateral ties.
- Indian media reports say the framework prioritizes interoperability, strategic logistics, joint production and technology transfer to support long‑term defense industrial cooperation.
- This is the third decadal framework after accords in 2005 and 2015, and it follows recent strains over U.S. tariff hikes as trade talks continue; officials had said the Kuala Lumpur talks were expected to review planned purchases such as Boeing P‑8I aircraft.