India-US
India-US defence talks: Rajnath Singh, Pete Hegseth discuss terrorism, military cooperation
Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, the Philippines, on October 28 to review progress under the India-US Major Defence Partnership.
During the meeting, both sides noted the steady progress of their foundational defence agreements and explored new avenues to strengthen operational readiness, technology sharing and defence industrial integration.
A key focus of the discussions was regional security, with both countries reaffirming their shared resolve to combat the global threat of terrorism, according to an official government statement.
Singh emphasised that the international community must adopt an uncompromising, zero-tolerance approach towards countries that support, train or finance terrorist organisations.
Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s strong support for India’s fight against cross-border terrorism.
Had an excellent meeting with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the 13th ADMM-Plus. We reviewed the progress of our 10-year India-US Defence Framework, driving strategic convergence across military technology, information sharing, and co-production. Our robust partnership continues to be a cornerstone for a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific. @SecWar
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) October 28, 2026
Singh, in turn, expressed India’s deep appreciation for the consistent support extended by the United States.
The two leaders also reviewed progress under the 10-year India-US Defence Framework and reiterated their commitment to further strengthening bilateral defence ties and advancing strategic convergence.
The discussions also covered expanding military-to-military exchanges, enhancing maritime security cooperation and building resilient defence supply chains to deepen collaboration between the two countries’ defence industries.
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