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U.S., India advance 10-year defense framework
Indian minister S. Jaishankar described the India-U.S. defense partnership as “one of the most consequential pillars” of the bilateral relationship.
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Bhavana P - Tue, 01, Jul 2025
- 17:03 EDT
- 15
(L-R) Jaishakar and Pete Hegseth / X/ DrSJaishankar
The United States and India are set to formalize a 10-year defense cooperation framework, aimed at expanding military collaboration, co-production of defense systems, and ensuring strategic stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
The development follows a meeting on July 1 between U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the Pentagon.
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The two leaders discussed a wide range of topics, including defense procurement, industrial cooperation, and upcoming bilateral initiatives such as the INDUS-X Summit, which will promote innovation in defense technology and manufacturing.
“President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi set a strong foundation for our relationship, which we're building on here today: productive, pragmatic and realistic. Our nations boast a rich and growing history of cooperation driven by a shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Hegseth said.
He welcomed India’s growing integration of U.S. defense platforms such as the C‑130J Super Hercules, P‑8I Poseidon, and AH‑64E Apache, and expressed hopes to conclude major pending defense sales and enhance interoperability between the two militaries.
The upcoming framework also follows February’s announcement by Trump and Modi of new co-production agreements involving Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and Stryker armored vehicles, as well as procurement discussions for additional P-8I maritime patrol aircraft.
Great to meet @SecDef Pete Hegseth in Washington DC today.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) July 1, 2025
Had a productive conversation on advancing the defence partnership, building on growing convergences of interests, capabilities and responsibilities.
pic.twitter.com/oiecSqS1Xf
Jaishankar noted that the India-U.S. defense partnership is now “one of the most consequential pillars” of the broader bilateral relationship. “We believe that our defense partnership is today truly one of the most consequential pillars of the relationship. It's not built merely on shared interests, but we believe really deepening convergence and of capabilities, of responsibilities," he said.
As both nations focus on securing the Indo-Pacific and advancing joint military innovation, the new framework is expected to anchor long-term strategic and industrial defense cooperation between Washington and New Delhi.
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