Press Information Bureau

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held a meeting with US Secretary of War Mr Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus (ADMM-Plus) in Cebu, Philippines on October 28, 2026. The meeting marked a vital opportunity to review the progress under the India-US Major Defence Partnership. Reflecting on the ongoing collaboration, both sides noted the robust progression of their foundational security agreements and explored fresh pathways to accelerate operational readiness, technology sharing and defence industrial integration.

A key highlight of the dialogue was the review of regional security, during which both nations strongly emphasised their joint resolve to eliminate the global menace of terrorism. Raksha Mantri stressed that the global community must maintain an uncompromising, zero-tolerance approach towards nations that support, train, or fund terrorist organisations. Secretary Hegseth reaffirmed the United States’ unwavering solidarity and full support to India in its fight against cross-border terrorism. Raksha Mantri expressed India's deep appreciation for the consistent and strong support extended by the US.

Both leaders also reviewed the progress of the 10-year India-US Defence Framework and concluded by reaffirming their shared commitment to further elevate the India-US defence relationship to strategic convergence. The discussions touched upon advancing military-to-military exchanges, augmenting maritime security collaboration, and integrating robust defence supply chains to further deepen and expand ongoing defence industry collaboration.

In a post on X after the meeting, Raksha Mantri termed the robust partnership between India and US as a cornerstone for a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific.

VK/Savvy