India and the United States have agreed to formalize a 10-year defense framework aimed at expanding and deepening their strategic and defense partnership. This development follows a series of high-level engagements between Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, including telephonic talks and planned in-person meetings. The discussions covered a broad range of issues such as long-term cooperation in defense, training, military exchanges, and enhanced industrial collaboration. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met with Hegseth in Washington, D.C., emphasizing the defense partnership as a consequential pillar of India-US relations and highlighting growing convergences in interests, capabilities, and responsibilities. The framework is expected to be signed during the next meeting of the two defense ministers later this year, underscoring the priority both countries place on strengthening their bilateral defense ties.