US expanding military ties with India, says US defence secretary Pete Hegseth, backs deeper QUAD role

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth on Saturday said the United States is expanding its security partnership with India, calling for deeper cooperation within the QUAD alliance to counter growing threats in the Indo-Pacific.

“We're also expanding our security partnership with India through robust military exercises like Tiger Triumph,” Hegseth said. “And we're also amplifying cooperation within the Quad and other multilateral frameworks.”Also read: US warns China is 'preparing' to use military force in AsiaHegseth made clear that the US sees logistical integration among QUAD partners as a key step forward.“Within the Quad, we're also leading an initiative called the Indo Pacific Logistics Network, enabling QUAD partners to leverage shared logistics capabilities in the Indo Pacific,” he said.

“You know, they say rookies talk strategy, pros talk logistics.”

The Defence Secretary’s remarks come amid a broader push by the Trump administration to reinforce its strategic footprint in the Indo-Pacific and to assure allies of America’s commitment to countering China’s military ambitions, particularly regarding Taiwan.“These exercises enhance our lethality while improving our readiness to respond at a moment's notice,” Hegseth added, referencing joint military drills like Towson Sabre with Australia and Cobra Gold in Thailand.

He also said that the US-led Partnership for Indo Pacific Industrial Resilience (PIPER), which involves 14 allies and partners collaborating with the private sector to bolster industrial and defence supply chains.“I'm proud to announce the first PIPER project,” Hegseth said. “It plans to establish repair capability and capacity for P8 radar systems in Australia… \[and] will also enable Indo Pacific allies and partners operating the aircraft, including New Zealand and the Republic of Korea, to repair aircraft within the region.”A second PIPER initiative will create standards for small unmanned aerial systems and increase supply chain resilience for their critical components. Hegseth described these steps as essential to deterring adversaries and ensuring that multinational forces have sustained combat support.“It's one thing for an adversary to see multinational forces operating together in exercises,” he said. “It's another thing entirely for that same country to see an integrated defence industrial base supporting those forces and standing ready to keep them in the fight.”Speaking in broader terms, Hegseth framed the Trump administration's foreign policy as pragmatic and focused on mutual self-interest.“President Trump's approach is grounded in common sense and national interest... We are not here to pressure other countries to embrace or adopt policies or ideologies,” he told the summit. “We are all sovereign nations.”He further stressed the importance of like-minded allies taking more responsibility for regional defence.“Ultimately, a strong, resolute and capable network of allies and partners is our key strategic advantage,” Hegseth said. “China envies what we have together.”