India, U.S. Discuss New 10-Year Major Defense Partnership

India and the United States are preparing to sign a new 10-year framework to strengthen their major defense partnership, following high-level talks held today at the Pentagon between U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

The meeting focused on enhancing bilateral defense ties through deeper military cooperation, joint weapons production, and expanded arms sales, with particular emphasis on maintaining stability in the Indo-Pacific.

"Almost right at the beginning of the administration, President [Donald J.] Trump and Prime Minister Shri [Narendra] Modi set a strong foundation for our relationship, which we're building on here today: productive, pragmatic and realistic," Hegseth said during remarks following the meeting.

Both leaders underscored mutual concerns about regional security and reaffirmed their shared commitment to a "free and open Indo-Pacific."

Hegseth acknowledged India's integration of multiple U.S. defense systems, including the C-130J Super Hercules, C-17 Globemaster III, P-8I Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, and MQ-9B Sky Guardians.

India’s military inventory also includes Harpoon anti-ship missiles, M777 howitzers, and MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters.

"Building on this progress, we hope we can complete several major pending U.S. defense sales to India, expand our shared defense industrial cooperation and coproduction efforts, strengthen interoperability between our forces, and then formally sign a new 10-year Framework for the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership … which we hope to do very soon," Hegseth said.

The two countries are moving forward with procurement and coproduction plans announced earlier this year during a Trump-Modi meeting, including potential deals involving Javelin antitank guided missiles, Stryker armored vehicles, and six additional P-8I aircraft.

The officials also reviewed upcoming opportunities for bilateral engagement, including the next India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem Summit, which will focus on joint technology development and defense manufacturing.

Hegseth said the U.S. is eager to "realize our shared goals" through closer collaboration. Both sides reaffirmed the importance of increased training, joint exercises, and coordinated operations.

"We're eager to work alongside you to realize our shared goals," Hegseth added. "They're deep and ongoing."