Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his American counterpart, Pete Hegseth, agreed on Thursday to work on a 10-year comprehensive framework to strengthen the India-US defence partnership, particularly in the fields of intelligence, logistics, operational and industrial engagement.
Singh said Hegseth reviewed several aspects of bilateral defence cooperation during a telephone call that happened barely a week before Prime Minister Narendra Modi is due to travel 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".
"We reviewed the ongoing defence cooperation and explored ways and means to expand and deepen the India-US bilateral defence relationship," he said.
"We also agreed to chart out an ambitious agenda which includes operational, intelligence, logistics and defence-industrial cooperation," he added.
"Looking forward to work closely with Secretary Hegseth," Singh said.
Modi and US President Donald Trump, in a phone conversation on January 27, agreed to work towards a "trusted" partnership, focusing on boosting the India-US cooperation in the areas of trade, energy, and defense.
The White House said following the phone talks that Trump has emphasized the need for India to increase its procurement of US-made security equipment and move toward a fair bilateral trade relationship.
In the readout, the defence ministry said Singh and Hegseth appreciated the ongoing and "remarkable expansion" of the India-US defence partnership, and reaffirmed their commitment to deepening the ties.
"In particular, the two ministers decided to work together on technology cooperation, integration of defence industrial supply chains, enhanced interoperability, logistics and information sharing and joint military exercises," it said.
"They also agreed to provide enhanced support to the growing defence innovation collaboration between the governments, start-ups, businesses, and academic institutions," it said.
The telephonic talk between Singh and Hegseth came amidst some anguish in India over the US deporting over 100 Indians in a military transport aircraft.
How to boost the defence bilateral ties is expected to be one of the key focus areas of the talks between Modi and Trump in Washington DC.
Modi will travel to Washington DC after concluding his two-day visit to Paris, as per the plan.
The prime minister is expected to land in the American capital in the evening of February 12 and he and Trump are expected to hold the talks the following day.
It would be the prime minister's first bilateral visit to the US after Trump assumed the presidency for a second term on January 20, after his stunning electoral victory in November last year.
Read also| J&K Mysterious Deaths: Rajouri District Seals All Pesticide and Insecticide Shops
Read also| ‘We Were Handcuffed and Chained,’ Claims Deportee from Punjab
