Rajnath Singh, Hegseth Review Defence Framework in Cebu, Call for Zero Tolerance on Terror Sponsors

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth met on Wednesday on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus), reviewing the 10-year India-US defence framework and agreeing to push for faster progress on operational readiness, technology sharing and defence industrial integration, the Ministry of Defence said.

The two sides described the talks as an opportunity to take stock of the Major Defence Partnership and noted the “robust progression” of the foundational security agreements underpinning it. They also discussed ways to expand military-to-military exchanges, strengthen maritime security cooperation and build more resilient defence supply chains, according to the ministry.

Terrorism at the centre

A major portion of the discussion focused on regional security and terrorism. Singh said the global community must take an uncompromising, zero-tolerance approach toward countries that support, train or fund terrorist organisations. Hegseth, the ministry said, reaffirmed American solidarity with India in its fight against cross-border terrorism, and Singh expressed appreciation for what he called consistent US support.

The ministry’s statement did not name any country in connection with the terrorism remarks. India has long used the phrase “cross-border terrorism” in reference to Pakistan, and relations between the two neighbours have remained strained since the Pahalgam attack of April 2025 and the military confrontation that followed.

A framework nearly a year old

The 10-year framework under review was signed almost exactly a year ago. Singh and Hegseth formalised the pact in Kuala Lumpur on October 31, 2025, also on the sidelines of ADMM-Plus. At the time, Singh said the agreement would provide policy direction to the entire spectrum of the India-US defence relationship, while Hegseth called it a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence. The signing came amid ongoing tariff troubles between the two countries, a backdrop that did not feature in Wednesday’s official account.

The framework was meant to renew and broaden the defence relationship across intelligence, logistics and operations. The two ministers had agreed in a phone call to work toward such a 10-year document, and it came after they discussed pending US defence sales and co-production in earlier contacts.

Indo-Pacific language

In a post on X after the meeting, Singh said the two sides were driving “strategic convergence” across military technology, information sharing and co-production. He described the partnership as a cornerstone for a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific. Both leaders, the ministry said, reaffirmed a shared commitment to elevate the defence relationship to strategic convergence.

The ADMM-Plus brings together the ten ASEAN states and eight partner countries, including India and the United States, and it has met annually since 2017. India co-chairs its Experts’ Working Group on Counter-Terrorism with Malaysia for the 2024–2027 cycle, a role that gives New Delhi a standing platform for the issue Singh raised in Cebu.

Wednesday’s statement offered no new agreements, procurement announcements or dates. The language points to continuity: co-production and supply chain integration are the areas where concrete outcomes would show whether the framework is translating into projects. Any announcements on those fronts, and on joint exercises and maritime cooperation, would be the next measure of progress.