External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon, emphasizing the increasingly vital defense ties between India and the United States. Jaishankar described the defense partnership as "one of the most consequential pillars" of the relationship. Hegseth welcomed the progress and expressed support for greater industrial cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting, both leaders acknowledged the strong foundation built by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi, describing the relationship as "productive, pragmatic, and realistic". They also recognized their shared commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific region and awareness of regional security concerns. Both nations possess the capabilities to counter threats together.

Hegseth lauded the successful integration of U.S. defense items into India's military inventory. He expressed hope for completing pending U.S. defense sales to India, expanding defense industrial cooperation and co-production efforts, and strengthening interoperability between their forces. A new 10-year Framework for the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership is expected to be signed soon.

Discussions also covered increasing military cooperation through enhanced training, exercises, and operations. Jaishankar and Hegseth discussed participation in the upcoming India-U.S. Defense Acceleration Ecosystem (INDUS-X) Summit, where both nations will continue to build on defense industrial cooperation and develop new technologies and manufacturing innovations.

Jaishankar highlighted the deepening convergence of capabilities and responsibilities between the two nations, emphasizing the crucial role they play in the strategic stability of the Indo-Pacific region. Hegseth affirmed the U.S.'s eagerness to work alongside India to achieve shared goals, describing them as "deep and ongoing".

The meeting follows the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting (QFMM) and signifies the rapid intensification of U.S.-India engagement across the Indo-Pacific. Besides Hegseth, Jaishankar also met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss trade, security, critical technologies, connectivity, energy, and mobility, as well as regional and global developments.

Both countries are also looking to finalize an interim trade pact. Any trade agreement with the U.S. must not be politically driven or one-sided and India should protect its farmers, digital ecosystem, and policy space.