India and the US have signed a framework agreement to expand defence cooperation over the next 10 years.
The pact was announced after a meeting between US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh in Kuala Lumpur.
The agreement aims to enhance coordination, information sharing, and tech cooperation while advancing regional stability, according to Hegseth.
This development comes as both nations strive to navigate a contentious trade environment marked by a 50% tariff imposed by President Donald Trump on India, including a significant penalty for transactions involving Russian oil and arms.
The pact is seen as providing crucial policy direction for the India-US defence relationship.
Singh emphasized on X that, this agreement signals our growing strategic convergence and will herald a new decade of partnership, with defence as a major pillar of our bilateral relations crucial for a free and rules-based Indo-Pacific region.
Although initially expected to conclude in mid-2025, the agreement faced delays due to India's displeasure with Trump's remarks regarding his mediation in conflicts with Pakistan.
Analyst Pramit Pal Chaudhuri noted that the pact is the latest step in a series of efforts to enhance military interoperability and technology sharing between the two countries.
According to Singh, recent discussions with Trump focused heavily on defence, including the US's commitment to facilitating military equipment sales to India, which may eventually lead to India acquiring F-35 stealth aircraft.
Despite increasing military collaboration, India's dependence on Russian oil and its historical defence ties with Moscow remain points of contention for the US administration.
India has indicated a willingness to boost energy and defence procurement from the US, as both nations pursue high-stakes trade negotiations to finalize a comprehensive deal by November.
With inputs from Soutik Biswas, India correspondent with the BBC.
