India and US Strengthen Defence Ties and Commit to Counter-Terrorism

Ministerial Meeting in Cebu

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth met on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, Philippines, to discuss the ongoing progress of the India-US defence partnership. The dialogue centered on reviewing the 10-year India-US Defence Framework signed in late 2025.

Core Areas of Cooperation

According to an official defence ministry release, the discussion highlighted several key areas aimed at deepening the strategic relationship:

• Technology Sharing: Both sides explored new pathways to accelerate the transfer of advanced military technology and enhance industrial integration.
• Maritime Security: Increased collaboration in maritime security remains a priority for both nations.
• Supply Chain Resilience: The countries discussed integrating robust defence supply chains to support operational readiness.
• Military Exchanges: Plans to further advance military-to-military cooperation were on the agenda.

Addressing Regional Security and Terrorism

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to reviewing the security situation in the Indo-Pacific. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining a free, open, and secure region. A central theme was the joint resolve to combat global terrorism. Minister Singh advocated for a zero-tolerance policy against nations that provide support or funding to terrorist organizations. Secretary Hegseth expressed continued US support for India in addressing cross-border terrorism.

Foundation of the Partnership

This high-level dialogue builds upon several foundational agreements established over the past decade, including:

• LEMOA (2016): Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement for base usage.
• COMCASA (2018): Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement for interoperability.
• BECA (2020): Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement for geospatial and technology sharing.

Observers can verify these ongoing developments through official press releases from the Ministry of Defence, Government of India, or the US Department of Defense.