NEW DELHI: Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth signed on Friday a 10-year defense framework to expand cooperation, marking a “new era” in bilateral ties amid tensions over Washington’s tariff war.
The defense chiefs signed the framework for the US-India Major Defense Partnership, which is expected to provide policy direction for their ties, on the sidelines of a ministerial meeting organized by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Kuala Lumpur.
“This will usher in a new era in our already strong defense partnership … It is a signal of our growing strategic convergence and will herald a new decade of partnership,” Singh said in a statement on X.
“Defense 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.”
The agreement comes as the two countries are working on closing a trade deal amid tense ties after US President Donald Trump slapped 50 percent tariffs on India, including a 25 percent penalty for importing Russian oil.
