US-India signed a landmark 10-year defence framework on Oct 31, 2025, to deepen coordination, tech cooperation, intelligence sharing and joint training.
US-India Framework Focuses on Technology Transfer
The United States and India have entered a landmark security partnership after signing a ten-year Defence Framework, a move officials say cements an era of deeper defence cooperation and strategic alignment. Announced by US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on October 31, 2025, the framework sets a roadmap for increased coordination, intelligence sharing, joint exercises and technology collaboration between Washington and New Delhi.
Hegseth described the pact as “ambitious” and said defence ties have never been stronger, framing the agreement as a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence. The signing took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Kuala Lumpur, where India’s defence minister Rajnath Singh and other senior officials held parallel talks.
Policy analysts will monitor whether the framework accelerates defence procurement, joint exercises and defence-industrial collaboration, potentially opening new avenues for joint research and co-development of platforms. The ten-year horizon allows both capitals to plan multi-year projects, capability upgrades and interoperability efforts that could reshape strategic calculations in South Asia.
