Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reviewed the progress of the 10-year India-US Defence Framework during talks in Cebu, the Philippines, on 28 October 2026. The discussions covered military technology, information sharing, the co-production of defence equipment and the security environment in the Indo-Pacific.
The meeting took place as the two ministers attended a gathering involving members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its dialogue partners. Singh described the discussions as “excellent” and said the two sides had examined progress under the framework while considering ways to deepen strategic convergence.
“Our robust partnership continues to be a cornerstone for a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific,” Rajnath Singh said in a social media post.
Hegseth said the talks coincided with the first anniversary of the framework, which sets out a 10-year roadmap for the two countries’ Major Defence Partnership. According to Hegseth, the ministers explored measures to strengthen cooperation. The framework was signed by India and the United States in October 2025.
Technology and industrial cooperation remain central
The subjects discussed in Cebu place technology access and defence-industrial cooperation at the centre of the bilateral relationship. The framework is intended to expand collaboration in areas that include military technology, secure information exchange and joint or co-production of defence equipment. The discussions also took place against the background of what both sides describe as changing security challenges across the Indo-Pacific.
- Military technology: India and the United States reviewed cooperation and avenues for deeper engagement.
- Information sharing: Secure and operationally relevant exchange of information formed part of the talks.
- Defence production: The ministers discussed co-production of defence equipment.
- Regional security: The Indo-Pacific security situation and evolving regional challenges were addressed.
India was designated a Major Defence Partner of the United States in 2016, a status that facilitated greater access to advanced American military equipment and technology. The two countries have also built a legal and operational framework for closer military cooperation through three foundational agreements.
| Agreement | Year | Purpose stated in the discussions |
|---|---|---|
| LEMOA | 2016 | Allows the two militaries to use each other’s bases for repairs and replenishment |
| COMCASA | 2018 | Facilitates secure communications and access to advanced US defence technology |
| BECA | 2020 | Enables sharing of geospatial information to support military operations |
The Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, or LEMOA, was signed in 2016. The Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement, known as COMCASA, followed in 2018, while the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement, or BECA, was signed in October 2020. Together, these arrangements provide the institutional basis for logistics support, secure communications and geospatial cooperation between the Indian and US armed forces.
India-US defence ties have continued to advance despite strains in diplomatic relations under the Trump administration. The Cebu meeting therefore brought the two sides together for an assessment of the framework during its first year, with the stated focus on implementation, technology cooperation, industrial production and the wider security situation in the Indo-Pacific.
