The agreement was announced after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Kuala Lumpur. The deal between India and the US was signed to expand defence cooperation over the next 10 years. In a social media post, he stated that the agreement will improve “coordination, information sharing and tech cooperation” to help with “regional stability and deterrence.”
This comes while both countries try to close a trade deal and fix tense relations after President Donald Trump put 50 per cent tariffs on India. That includes a 25 per cent penalty for buying Russian oil and weapons. The agreement is supposed to provide direction for the entire India-US defence relationship going forward.
Signal of Expanding Partnership
Singh wrote on social media: “It is a sign 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.”
Pramit Pal Chaudhuri from the Eurasia Group think tank said the agreement was supposed to have been finished in July or August this year. But India got irritated at Trump’s statements about his role in ending the conflict with Pakistan, which led to delays. The deal 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,” Chaudhuri said.
Trade Talks Ongoing While Defence Ties Grow
India and the US have recently been working on increasing their defence ties. Defence was one of the major areas discussed when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the US in February. Trump said America would increase military equipment sales to India by many billions of dollars, eventually providing Delhi with F-35 stealth warplanes.
But since then, Delhi’s use of cheap Russian oil and its long relationship with Moscow for weapons have irritated the Trump administration. While Russia continues to be a major arms supplier to India, its share of Indian defence purchases has been falling as Delhi tries to buy from different countries and make more weapons at home. In recent months India has hinted it would be open to buying more energy and defence equipment from the US. The two countries are in high-stakes trade talks aimed at reaching a deal by November.
News At Glance
- India, US sign 10-year defence cooperation agreement in Kuala Lumpur
- Deal aims to improve coordination, information sharing and technology cooperation
- Comes as countries try to close trade deal amid Trump’s 50% tariffs on India
- The agreement was delayed because India was irritated by Trump’s statements on Pakistan.
- Both countries are working toward the trade deal deadline of November
FAQs
Q: What did India and the US agree to?
A: They signed a 10-year framework agreement to expand defence cooperation, including in coordination, information sharing, and technology cooperation.
Q: Why are relations tense at the moment?
A: President Trump put tariffs of 50% on India, adding a penalty of 25% for buying Russian oil and weapons. Both countries are trying to work out a trade deal.
Q: When was this agreement supposed to happen?
A: It was supposed to be finished in July or August but got delayed because India was irritated by Trump’s statements about Pakistan.
Q: What military equipment might India get?
A: Trump said the US would increase military equipment sales, by many billions of dollars, eventually providing India with F-35 stealth warplanes.
Q: Does India still buy weapons from Russia?
A: Yes, Russia is still a major arms supplier to India, but its share has been falling as India tries to buy from different countries and make more at home.
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