India and US Strengthen Defence Ties with New 10-Year Framework

India and the United States have agreed to establish a new 10-year defence framework to enhance strategic ties. During a phone call, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth discussed major defence sales, industrial cooperation, and urgent engine deliveries for India’s Tejas aircraft.

In a significant move, India and the United States have decided to reinforce their defence and strategic relations by firming up a new 10-year framework, according to a statement released by the Pentagon on Wednesday. This development came shortly after a conversation between India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.

The two leaders agreed on the importance of signing this next decade-long US-India Defence Framework during their upcoming meeting this year. Both also highlighted the urgent need to address pending US defence sales to India and emphasized the necessity of close industrial cooperation in the defence sector.

The discussion underscored the value the United States places on India as a key strategic partner in South Asia, reflecting the progress made since the Trump-Modi joint statement in February 2025. The leaders talked about expediting engine deliveries and boosting domestic production capabilities, signaling a deepening of military and industrial partnerships between the two nations.