India and US sign 10-year framework for major defence partnership in Kuala Lumpur
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed a 10-year 'framework for the US-India major defence partnership' in Kuala Lumpur on 31 October 2025.
Summary
On 31 October 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth signed the 'framework for the US-India major defence partnership' on the sidelines of the 12th ADMM-Plus. The 2025 framework is meant to transform the partnership over the next 10 years and give a unified vision and policy direction to defence cooperation. Hegseth said India is a priority country for the US in defence cooperation. The same day, Rajnath Singh attended the second India-ASEAN Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, where he announced an ASEAN-India Initiative on Women in UN Peacekeeping Operations and an ASEAN-India Defence Think-Tank Interaction.
Key facts
- Date/place
- 31 Oct 2025, Kuala Lumpur (sidelines of 12th ADMM-Plus)
- Signatories
- Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth
- Document
- Framework for the US-India major defence partnership
- Duration
- Next 10 years
- Also on 31 Oct
- 2nd India-ASEAN Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting
- New initiatives
- Women in UN Peacekeeping; Defence Think-Tank Interaction
Practice MCQs 3 questions
The 'framework for the US-India major defence partnership' signed on 31 October 2025 is intended to guide the partnership over how many years?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 10 years
The 2025 framework marks a new chapter to further transform the partnership over the next 10 years.
In which city did Rajnath Singh and Pete Hegseth sign the India-US defence framework on 31 October 2025?
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Correct answer: D — Kuala Lumpur
They signed it in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the sidelines of the 12th ADMM-Plus.
At the second India-ASEAN Defence Ministers' Informal Meeting on 31 October 2025, which initiatives did India announce?
Show answer
Correct answer: A — ASEAN-India Initiative on Women in UN Peacekeeping Operations and ASEAN-India Defence Think-Tank Interaction
Rajnath Singh announced the ASEAN-India Initiative on Women in UN Peacekeeping Operations and the ASEAN-India Defence Think-Tank Interaction.