U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with India's Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar on July 1, 2025, to strengthen military ties amidst rising tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. During the meeting at the Pentagon, Secretary Hegseth expressed the U.S.'s hope to finalize major pending defense sales to India. The two leaders also discussed the upcoming 10-Year Defense Framework agreement and key policy reviews related to advanced military technologies.

The meeting builds upon the joint statement made by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2025, which emphasized enhanced military and strategic cooperation between the two countries. Hegseth and Jaishankar signaled strong support for the next INDUS-X Summit, a bilateral defense tech forum, and the launch of the Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA), an initiative focused on collaboration in unmanned and autonomous weapons systems.

According to a Department of Defense (DoD) news article, Hegseth stated that the U.S. and India are mutually aware of the security concerns in the Indo-Pacific region and possess the ability to counter those threats together. He also highlighted U.S. efforts to provide India with the necessary tools to address these threats.

Hegseth expressed satisfaction with the successful integration of U.S. defense items into India's inventory. He further stated the U.S. hope to complete several major pending defense sales to India, expand shared defense industrial cooperation and co-production efforts, strengthen interoperability between forces, and formally sign a new 10-year Framework for the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership soon.

Jaishankar affirmed that the defense partnership is one of the most consequential pillars of the relationship. He noted the deepening convergence of interests, capabilities, and responsibilities in the Indo-Pacific region as crucial to its strategic stability. He also acknowledged the increasing complexity of the world and emphasized the immense importance of the partnership's contribution, not just for both nations but also for the larger region and the world.

Both leaders recognized the importance of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Hegseth and Jaishankar also discussed participation in the next INDUS-X Summit, where the two nations will continue to build on U.S.-India defense industrial cooperation and produce new innovations in technology and manufacturing.

The U.S.-India military partnership has been gaining momentum as both countries seek to counterbalance China's growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. Senior Defense Spokesman Col. Chris Devine stated that Secretary Hegseth anticipates future high-level bilateral meetings with India later this year to continue building the dynamic U.S.-India defense relationship.