Rajnath, Hegseth Vow To Fight Terrorism, Deepen Defense Ties

CEBU, PHILIPPINES-Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the India-US Major Defense Partnership and eliminating terrorism during a meeting on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN Defense Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Cebu, the Philippines, on Oct. 28.

The two leaders reviewed progress in operational coordination, information sharing and defense industrial cooperation, and discussed ways to expand the partnership in support of their shared interests across the region.

The US Department of Defense said the ministers marked the first anniversary of the Framework for the US-India Major Defense Partnership and noted the progress demonstrated by the recent bilateral military exercise Yudh Abhyas.

Singh said the robust India-US partnership remained a cornerstone of efforts to maintain a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific.

Hegseth also described the meeting as productive, saying the two sides had discussed ways to strengthen cooperation.

According to India’s Defense Ministry, the ministers reviewed the 10-year India-US Defense Framework and explored further cooperation in operational readiness, technology sharing and defense industrial integration.

Regional security was another key focus, with both sides reaffirming their resolve to combat terrorism. Singh stressed that the international community must adopt an uncompromising, zero-tolerance approach towards countries that support, train or fund terrorist organizations.

The Defense Ministry said Hegseth reaffirmed US support for India’s fight against cross-border terrorism, while Singh expressed appreciation for Washington’s backing. (IANS)