India-US defence deal signals strategic interests trump temporary frictions

The new ten-year India-US Defence Framework Agreement signed in Kuala Lumpur reaffirms the strategic partnership between the two nations despite recent frictions. While Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and US counterpart Pete Hegseth formalised the deal, Prime Minister Modi’s absence underscored India’s insistence on parity, not patronage. The pact focuses on institutionalising cooperation in joint production, technology sharing, and Indo-Pacific security. It reflects mature diplomacy—Delhi maintaining strategic autonomy and Washington recognising partnership over pressure. More recalibration than reset, the agreement signals that enduring interests, not temporary disagreements, will define the evolving Indo-US relationship in an increasingly complex global landscape.