New Delhi, July 3, 2025 – In a significant step toward deepening military and strategic collaboration, India and the United States have agreed to finalize a new 10-year defence framework, reaffirming their growing partnership as key allies in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia. The decision emerged after a phone conversation between Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his newly appointed American counterpart, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, held on Tuesday.
According to a Pentagon statement released on Wednesday, both leaders committed to signing the next phase of the US-India Defence Framework Agreement during their upcoming in-person meeting later this year.
A Decade of Partnership: Renewing Strategic Vision
The proposed 10-year pact will serve as a comprehensive roadmap for future defence cooperation, encompassing everything from joint exercises and military exchanges to co-development of critical technologies and defence manufacturing.
“Secretary Hegseth emphasized the priority the United States places on India as its key defense partner in South Asia,” said the Pentagon, highlighting New Delhi’s evolving role in regional and global security architectures.
Focus on Industrial Cooperation and Major Defence Deals
One of the focal points of the conversation was pending US defence sales to India, including crucial engine supplies that have recently faced delays. The leaders underlined the need for closer defence industrial cooperation, particularly through technology-sharing and joint production initiatives.
Of immediate concern was the delivery of GE F404 jet engines, required to power India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA). Defence Minister Rajnath Singh reportedly urged his US counterpart to expedite the delivery, which has been delayed by GE Aerospace—causing HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd) to miss deadlines for supplying Tejas Mark 1A jets to the Indian Air Force.
Singh also pressed for swift finalisation of the F414 engine co-production deal between HAL and GE Aerospace, a key project under the India-US Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI). The F414 engines are slated for powering the Tejas Mark 2 and future fighter platforms, making the partnership vital to India’s indigenisation goals.
Building on Trump-Modi 2025 Vision
The latest developments follow up on the defence goals laid out in the February 2025 joint statement between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. Both sides acknowledged the “considerable progress” made so far and expressed determination to accelerate cooperation across all domains.
According to the Pentagon readout, the leaders reaffirmed the importance of:
- Interoperability between armed forces
- Integration of defence supply chains
- Expanded logistics and intelligence-sharing agreements
- Increased joint military exercises
- Regional collaboration with like-minded partners (such as Japan, Australia, and France)
Indian Readout: Momentum in Defence Diplomacy
The Indian Ministry of Defence echoed similar sentiments, noting that the conversation spanned a “wide canvas of defence cooperation”, ranging from training programs and joint operations to industry-driven collaborations. The ministry described the US-India partnership as “critical and mutually beneficial,” adding that both nations are committed to sustaining momentum across all key pillars of cooperation.
Strategic Context: A Strengthening Alliance in Uncertain Times
This renewed engagement comes at a time when both India and the US are navigating complex global security challenges, including:
- China’s expanding influence in the Indo-Pacific
- Ongoing tensions in the South China Sea
- The need for resilient supply chains amid geopolitical disruptions
- Shared concerns over emerging domains like cybersecurity and space defence
India’s growing defence relationship with Washington reflects not just a tactical convergence, but a broader strategic alignment built on democratic values, economic interdependence, and regional security priorities.
A New Era in Defence Ties
As the two nations prepare to ink a transformative 10-year agreement, the India-US defence partnership is poised to enter a new era—one defined not just by procurement and exercises, but by co-production, innovation, and strategic depth.
With key industrial projects on the horizon and an evolving regional security landscape, this partnership is set to be one of the cornerstones of India’s global defence diplomacy in the years ahead.
