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The United States and India have discussed a 10-year cooperation framework, defence sales and shared priorities at a meeting of the two countries.
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently met with India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar at the Pentagon on 1 July to discuss the new defence partnership.
Secretary Hegseth said both the US and India are mutually aware of the security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Almost right at the beginning of the administration, President (Donald J) Trump and Prime Minister Shri (Narendra) Modi set a strong foundation for our relationship, which we're building on here today: productive, pragmatic and realistic,” Secretary Hegseth said.
“And our nations boast a rich and growing history of cooperation driven by a shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“The United States is very pleased with the successful integration of many US defence items into India’s inventory.
“And building on this progress, we hope we can complete several major pending US defence sales to India, expand our shared defence industrial cooperation and co-production efforts, strengthen interoperability ... between our forces and then formally sign a new 10-year framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership ... which we hope to do very soon.”
During a meeting in February between US President Trump and Indian Prime Minister Modi, the two leaders announced plans to pursue new procurements and co-production arrangements for Javelin anti-tank guided missiles and Stryker armoured vehicles. They also discussed procurement for six additional P-8I maritime patrol aircraft.
“We believe that our defence 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,” Minister Jaishankar said.
“And what we do in the Indo-Pacific, we believe, is absolutely crucial to its strategic stability.”
India has already integrated into its own military weapons, such as the C‑130J Super Hercules, C‑17 Globemaster III and P‑8I Poseidon aircraft, as well as the CH‑47F Chinook, MH‑60R Sea Hawk and AH‑64E Apache. India also utilises the Harpoon anti-ship missiles, M777 howitzers and MQ‑9B Sky Guardians.
Also in February, the President and Prime Minister pledged to increase military cooperation with enhanced training, exercises and operations.
Secretary Hegseth and Minister Jaishankar discussed participation in the next India-US Defence Acceleration Ecosystem Summit, where the two nations will continue to build on US–India defence industrial cooperation and produce new innovations in technology and manufacturing.
“We’re eager to work alongside you to realise our shared goals… They’re deep and ongoing,” Secretary Hegseth said.
