In phone talks, Rajnath, US Def Secy Hegseth agree to work on 10-year framework to boost ties

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his American counterpart, Pete Hegseth, agreed on Thursday to work on a 10-year comprehensive framework to bolster the India-US defence partnership, especially in the spheres of intelligence, logistics, operational and industrial engagement.

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Singh said Hegseth reviewed various aspects of the bilateral defence ties in a phone conversation that came less than a week before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's planned trip to Washington.

It was Singh's first phone conversation with Hegseth after the latter was confirmed as the US defence secretary on January 25.

An Indian readout of the conversation said India and the United States have agreed to work together to draft a comprehensive framework on defence cooperation, aimed at structuring the bilateral collaboration for the 2025-2035 period.

It said Singh and Hegseth reviewed the extensive India-US defence cooperation activities, covering "multiple domains in land, air, maritime and space".

In a post on X, the defence minister said he and Hegseth reviewed the ongoing India-US defence cooperation and explored ways to further deepen the relationship.

Singh described the phone conversation as "excellent".