The “Framework for the U.S.-India Major Defence Partnership” was signed by Defence Minister of India and U.S. Secretary of War on the sidelines of the 12th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.It is 10-year road map to guide strategic collaboration and cooperation between the two countries across the defence spectrum.The development came amid strained ties due to Washington’s slapping of 50% tariffs on Indian goods.

Key Highlights

¨     Comprehensive Cooperation: It covers military interoperability across land, sea, air, space, and cyberspace sectors as well as joint efforts on missile defence and counter-terrorism.

¨     Technological and Industrial Collaboration: Enhanced technology sharing and expanded defence-industrial ties, including logistics, maintenance, and repair capabilities.

¨     Regional Stability and Indo-Pacific Security: Both nations commit to safeguarding a free and open Indo-Pacific, countering coercion, and supporting like-minded partnerships including the Quad grouping.

¨     Enhanced Coordination: The framework envisions better coordination in responding swiftly to regional challenges and disasters.

¨     Defence Export Licensing: Prioritization of export license approvals for defence equipment to support India’s military modernization.

Geopolitical Significance

¨     Strategic Recalibration in the Indo-Pacific: The pact reinforces collective deterrence against China’s assertiveness and strengthens India’s role as a key regional anchor alongside partners like Japan and Australia.

¨     Herald new decade of partnership: The framework is expected to provide unified policy direction to transform and expand partnership between the two countries over the next decade.

¨     Enhanced Regional Stability and Deterrence: The pact is vital for stability amid rising Chinese naval activity and strategic uncertainty in the Indian Ocean region.

¨     Impact on South Asia Dynamics: A stronger India–US defence alignment may push Pakistan closer to China, intensifying regional strategic competition.

¨     Defence Industrial and Technological Cooperation: The pact accelerates co-production, co-development, and supply-chain diversification under “Make in India.”

Previous Defence Agreements

¨     Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), 2016: LEMOA gives both countries reciprocal access to each other’s military bases for logistics support, strengthening operational reach and joint readiness.

¨     The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), 2018: COMCASA enables India and the US to use secure, encrypted communication systems and share real-time information for better interoperability.

¨     The Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA), 2020: BECA provides India with advanced geospatial intelligence, improving the accuracy of its military targeting, navigation, and operations.

¨     Security of Supply Arrangement (SOSA), 2024: SOSA guarantees reliable defence supply chains between India and the US, reducing delays and boosting strategic resilience.