The United States and India have signed a new 10-year defense pact aimed at enhancing intelligence-sharing and technological collaboration. The agreement, announced by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and India’s Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, underscores the growing strategic alignment between the two nations despite existing tensions in regional security and trade issues.
Hegseth emphasized that the pact would bolster both countries’ capabilities in cybersecurity, joint military exercises, and advanced defense technologies. He noted that the partnership would also enhance collaboration on emerging threats such as cyberattacks and hybrid warfare. Singh, on the other hand, described the agreement as a significant step forward in strengthening India’s position in the Indo-Pacific as a ‘net security provider.’
Analysts have pointed out that while the agreement is seen as a positive development for bilateral relations, it comes amid broader geopolitical challenges, including India’s complex relationships with other regional powers and the U.S.’s strategic focus on countering China’s influence. The pact is expected to facilitate greater defense exports and joint research initiatives, potentially benefiting both economies in the long term.