Rajnath Singh, Hegseth To Sign Next 10-Year India-US Defence Framework

Last Updated:July 02, 2025, 20:24 IST

Hegseth emphasized the priority the United States places on India as its key defense partner in South Asia

This was their third telephonic conversation since January this year when Mr Pete Hegseth was confirmed as US Secretary of Defense. (Photos: X)

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his US counterpart Pete Hegseth have agreed to the next ten-year US-India Defence Framework when they next meet this year.

Singh and Hegseth held a telephonic conversation on June 1 in which they discussed pending major US defence sales to India and the imperative of close defence industrial cooperation between the two countries.

Hegseth emphasised the priority the United States places on India as its key defense partner in South Asia. Secretary Hegseth and Minister Singh reviewed the considerable progress both countries have made toward achieving the defense goals set out in the February 2025 joint statement by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, according to a readout from US Secretary of Defense.

According to India’s Ministry of Defence, the two leaders discussed a wide canvas of issues ranging from long-term cooperation in the defence sector, including training and military exchanges, to expanding industry collaboration.

They agreed to further build upon the momentum of this critical and mutually beneficial partnership across all its pillars such as interoperability, integration of defence industrial supply chains, logistics sharing, increased joint military exercises and cooperation with other like-minded partners.

The Defence Minister appreciated the unwavering support extended by the US to India for its fight against terrorism. He complimented the US Secretary of Defense for his dynamic leadership, which has propelled defence cooperation between the US and India to new levels.

Hegseth also invited Singh to the US for an in-person meeting to take the bilateral defence partnership forward.

In a post on X, Rajnath Singh stated that the discussions were held to review the ongoing and new initiatives to further deepen India-US defence partnership and strengthen cooperation in capacity building. He looked forward to meeting the US Secretary of Defense at an early date.

This was their third telephonic conversation since January this year when Mr Pete Hegseth was confirmed as US Secretary of Defense.

Saurabh Verma

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19

Location :

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

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News india Rajnath Singh, Hegseth To Sign Next 10-Year India-US Defence Framework