India and United States signed a 10-year defence framework agreement on Friday to enhance defence sector collaboration, following a ‘fruitful’ meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
India and United States
“Defence will remain as a major pillar of our bilateral relations. Our partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open and rules-based Indo-Pacific region,” Singh asserted.
Strategic Milestone in India–U.S. Defence Relations
This new decade-long roadmap marks a fresh chapter in the bilateral defence relationship. The leaders announced plans for it in a February 2025 joint statement, signalling ambitions to elevate the partnership in air, land, sea, space and cyberspace domains. In essence, the framework seeks to institutionalise cooperation so that it goes beyond episodic deals and becomes an enduring partnership
Key Pillars of the 10-Year Defence Framework
The framework lays out several core areas of cooperation:
Interoperability: Enhancing joint exercises, training and operations so that Indian and U.S. forces can work together more seamlessly.
Defence industrial collaboration: Joint manufacturing, co-production of defence systems, technology transfers and deeper supply-chain integration.
Arms sales and procurement: Acceleration of major 10-Year Defence Framework sales to India, and leveraging those platforms for joint use and regional integration.
Logistics & information sharing: Strengthening logistics support, intelligence exchange and cross-domain cooperation to respond to regional threats more effectively.
Why the Timing and Context Matter
The timing is important for several reasons. First, India’s strategic role in the Indo-Pacific is rising, and the U.S. views India as a central partner in maintaining a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” Second, both countries are facing an increasingly complex security environment, with evolving threats in the maritime, cyber and space domains. Finally, the defence equipment India has acquired from the U.S. in recent years (such as transport and surveillance aircraft) provides a foundation for deeper integration.
Potential Benefits and Strategic Implications
For India, 10-Year Defence Framework offers access to advanced technologies, enhanced training opportunities, stronger defence industrial capabilities and a more prominent role in regional security architecture. For the U.S., partnering with India advances its regional presence, diversifies defence cooperation partners and helps build a larger network of like-minded nations. Together, this pact could serve as a deterrent to regional instability and enhance supply-chain resilience in defence manufacturing.
Moreover, deeper collaboration may help streamline delayed procurements (for example, some jet-engine deliveries) and strengthen India’s “Make in India” ambitions in the defence sector.
