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India and the United States (US) have signed a defence agreement to expand their cooperation to foster national unity. The India-US defence agreement, officially known as the “Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership,” is a 10-year pact signed on October 31, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and aimd at strengthening military collaboration, technology sharing, and joint initiatives between the two nations. The agreement signals a “new era” in India-US defence relations, with both nations committed to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. It also reflects the growing strategic convergence between the two countries. The agreement was announced after a meeting between US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, in Kuala Lumpur. Hegseth in a shared post on X emphasised that the partnership is built on mutual trust and common interests, and it will also enhance “coordination, information sharing and tech cooperation” and advance “regional stability and deterrence”. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also stated on X that the defence will remain a major pillar of bilateral relations. “It is a signal of our growing strategic convergence and will herald a new decade of partnership. 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 said, in a post on X. This defence agreement is expected to boost joint production, technology transfers, and military exercises between the two nations, complementing economic and diplomatic engagements. The development coincided with efforts by India and the US to finalize a trade agreement and ease strained relations, which were exacerbated when US President Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods, including a 25% penalty related to India’s purchases of Russian oil and arms. According to Pramit Pal Chaudhuri of the Eurasia Group think tank, the agreement’s timeline which was supposed to be concluded in July-August this year was pushed back due to tensions between India and the US, stemming from comments made by Trump regarding India’s conflict with Pakistan. This national cooperation is the latest in a series of agreements between the two countries that have made it “easier for the two militaries to achieve interoperability, India to access technology and the two defence sectors to work together”, Mr Chaudhuri said. “This provides for further potential in all three areas,” he added. India and the US have been strengthening their defense relationship, with significant discussions during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US in February, where potential deals on F-35 stealth warplanes and other military equipment were discussed. However, India’s continued engagement with Russia on defense and oil imports has caused tension in the US-India relationship. ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
