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India to Police South China Sea
Defence
Minister Rajnath Singh and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on Friday (31 October 2025) signed a landmark 10-year Defence Framework
Agreement in Kuala Lumpur, marking what Singh called a “new
chapter” in India–U.S.
defence cooperation.
The pact was signed on
the sidelines of the ASEAN
Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), where Singh represented India. It
establishes a decade-long
roadmap for
expanded military
collaboration, capacity building, and joint initiatives across the Indo-Pacific region.
Hegseth hailed the
agreement as “ambitious” and a major
step forward,
emphasizing shared strategic interests and America’s “long-term commitment to a
secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”
Rajnath Singh said the
framework would “provide policy direction to the entire spectrum of the
India-U.S. Defence Relationship” and reflect the countries’ growing strategic convergence.
The meeting follows a
series of high-level India–U.S. engagements, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier in the week.
During his Malaysia
visit, Singh is also scheduled to meet Malaysian
Defence Minister Khaled Nordin
and participate in the ADMM-Plus
Summit,
where discussions focus on regional
stability and counter-terrorism cooperation. India currently co-chairs the ADMM-Plus Experts’ Working
Group on Counter-Terrorism (2024–2027)
with Malaysia.
Defence
Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday met US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Kuala Lumpur,
where the two leaders signed a landmark ten-year Defence Framework Agreement, signalling
what Singh described as the beginning of a “new chapter” in India-US defence cooperation.
The
meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus
(ADMM-Plus), where Singh is representing India.
“We
have held telephonic conversations thrice. I am delighted to be meeting you in person
on the sidelines of ADMM-Plus. On this occasion, I feel a new chapter will begin
today with the signing of the Defence Framework. I am confident that under your
leadership, India-US relations will further strengthen,” Rajnath said, as quoted
by ANI.
— ANI (@ANI)
The
agreement, signed in the presence of senior officials from both countries, lays
out a decade-long roadmap for deeper military collaboration, capacity building,
and joint initiatives across the Indo-Pacific region. Hegseth described the pact
as a major step forward in the bilateral relationship.
“I
want to express gratitude to Minister Singh for the partnership we have with India.
It's one of the most consequential US-India relationships in the world. Our strategic
alignment is built on shared interests, on mutual trust and commitment to a secure
and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” he said.
“This
10-year US-India Defence Framework is ambitious. It’s a significant step for our
two militaries, a roadmap for deeper and even more meaningful collaboration ahead.
It underscores America’s long-term commitment to our shared security and our strong
partnership.”
Speaking
about the meeting, Rajnath Singh later wrote in a post on X, "This Defence
Framework will provide policy direction to the entire spectrum of the India-US Defence
Relationship. It is a signal of our growing strategic convergence and will herald
a new decade of partnership."
— rajnathsingh
(@rajnathsingh)
The
meeting comes amid a broader intensification of high-level engagements between New
Delhi and Washington. Earlier this week, External affairs minister S Jaishankar
met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, discussing bilateral ties and regional developments.
Rajnath
Singh’s visit to Malaysia also includes talks with his Malaysian counterpart Khaled
Nordin and participation in the ADMM-Plus summit, where discussions are centred
on regional stability and counter-terrorism cooperation. India currently co-chairs
the Experts’ Working Group on Counter Terrorism with Malaysia for 2024–2027, reinforcing
its growing role in shaping Indo-Pacific security dynamics.