NEW DELHI: 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.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.”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.
