(Forelines) – Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on the fringes of the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), which took place on October 31, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The delegation-level discussions were followed by a one-on-one encounter, and the meeting was productive, Indian Defence Ministry said in a statement.
The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the mutually advantageous collaboration across all of its pillars and expressed gratitude for the ongoing momentum in the bilateral defense cooperation.
They discussed the continuing defense industry and technology partnerships and went over the current defense difficulties and challenges. Both leaders decided to cooperate in order to tackle issues during a period of growing global uncertainty.
The Secretary of War reaffirmed that the United States prioritizes defense cooperation with India and that they are dedicated to collaborating closely with India to guarantee an open and free Indo-Pacific.
The “framework for the US-India substantial defense relationship,” which will mark a new chapter in an already robust defense partnership, was signed by both leaders during the meeting.
The collaboration will undergo significant transformation over the next ten years under the 2025 framework. Its goal is to strengthen defense cooperation by offering a cohesive vision and policy direction.
Rajnath Singh said in a post on X exuded confidence that the 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. Defence will remain as the major pillar of our bilateral relations. Our partnership is critical for ensuring a free, open and rules-bound Indo-Pacific region,” he added.
Pete Hegseth stated in a post on X that the framework advances the bilateral defence partnership, a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence.
“We’re enhancing our coordination, info sharing, and tech cooperation. Our defense ties have never been stronger,” he added.