Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Cebu on Wednesday. They marked one year of the 10-year defence framework.
Updated: 29 October 2026, 10:00 IST
Quick Read:
- Rajnath Singh met Pete Hegseth on 28 October 2026 in Cebu, Philippines, on the sidelines of the 13th ADMM-Plus meeting.
- They reviewed the 10-year India-US Defence Framework, signed in October 2025. Hegseth called it the one-year anniversary of the framework.
- Talks covered military tech, information sharing, co-production, maritime security, and a joint stand against terrorism.
Where and why they met
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh met US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Cebu, Philippines, on Wednesday, 28 October 2026. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 13th ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus, or ADMM-Plus, held on 28–29 October.
Singh leads the Indian delegation. He arrived in Cebu on Tuesday night. He was welcomed at the airport by Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Harsh Kumar Jain and Defence Attaché Captain ChandraKant Kothari, DD India reported.
ADMM-Plus is ASEAN’s top defence meeting with its dialogue partners. ASEAN members plus eight partners — India, the US, China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand — take part. Singh was also due to address the forum on Thursday on regional and international security issues.
The Cebu setting matters. It is not a one-off bilateral visit. It is a multilateral meeting where Singh also met other counterparts, including Japan’s Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Australia’s Richard Marles. Defence ties are reviewed in batches at such meetings.
What the 10-year framework is
India and the US signed the 10-year defence framework in October 2025. The framework gives a single vision and policy direction for defence ties over ten years, the Defence Ministry said.
Hegseth, in his post on X after the meeting, said the two leaders celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Framework for the Major Defence Partnership. That confirms the framework is one year old, not a new deal signed in Cebu.
The US named India a “Major Defence Partner” about 11 years ago. That step opened the way for sharing critical military equipment and tech. The 2025 framework builds on that base. It sets a roadmap, not a single purchase.
Singh, in his post on X, said: “We reviewed the progress of our 10-year India-US Defence Framework, driving strategic convergence across military technology, information sharing, and co-production. Our robust partnership continues to be a cornerstone for a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific.”
What they actually discussed
The Defence Ministry release, cited by The Times of India and ET Manufacturing, lists the main items. First, military-to-military exchanges. Second, maritime security cooperation. Third, defence supply chains that can survive shocks. Fourth, defence industry cooperation, including co-production of military hardware in India and the US.
The two sides also reviewed foundational security agreements. These are the basic pacts that let two militaries share information, use each other’s bases for logistics, and protect shared tech. The release says both sides noted robust progress on these pacts and explored fresh ways to speed up readiness, tech sharing, and industrial integration.
Regional security was also on the table. The two sides reviewed the situation in the Indo-Pacific and fast-changing regional security dynamics. In plain words, that means sea routes, China’s naval activity, and the safety of trade lanes in Asia’s seas.
No new weapons deal, price, or delivery date was announced in the reports checked. Readers should not read “review” as “new purchase.” A review checks what has moved in one year and what is stuck.
The terrorism message
Terrorism got a strong, joint message. Singh stressed that the world must keep an uncompromising, zero-tolerance approach toward nations that support, train, or fund terrorist groups. That is the Indian readout, cited by DT Next and The Times of India.
Hegseth reaffirmed US solidarity and full support to India in its fight against cross-border terrorism. Singh thanked the US for consistent and strong support.
This language matters because it is public and joint. It tells other countries that India and the US share a stand on cross-border terror, even when trade or tariff ties face strain. ET Manufacturing notes that defence ties have stayed on an upswing despite strain in diplomatic relations under the Trump administration.
What it means for India
For ordinary readers, defence frameworks can feel far away. Their effects are practical, not abstract.
First, co-production means jobs and factories in India, not just imports. If India makes parts or systems with US firms, Indian engineers and workers learn the tech.
Second, information sharing means faster warnings about threats at sea and in the air. That helps the Navy and Air Force plan better.
Third, maritime security means safer sea lanes for trade. India imports most of its oil by sea. Safe lanes keep fuel and goods moving.
Fourth, supply chains matter in a crisis. If one country alone makes a key part, a war or a factory shutdown can stop repairs. Shared supply chains lower that risk.
The one-year mark is the real news hook. Most defence headlines focus on a single jet or missile deal. This meeting is about the system behind those deals: the pacts, the factories, and the exercises that make a deal work after signing. If the framework stalls, future deals slow down too. If it moves, deals get easier.
Also read: India vs NZ 3rd T20I: Abhishek 113 win
Also read: MLC counting: BJP wins Meerut, SP Varanasi
Also read: Cyclone Arnab landfall near Yanam
FAQ
Q: Did India and the US sign a new defence deal in Cebu?
A: No. They reviewed the 10-year framework signed in October 2025 and marked its one-year anniversary. No new purchase was announced in the reports checked.
Q: What does ADMM-Plus mean?
A: ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus. It brings ASEAN states together with eight dialogue partners, including India and the US, to talk security and defence.
Q: What should readers watch next?
A: Singh’s address to the ADMM-Plus forum on Thursday, 29 October, and any Defence Ministry note on follow-up steps for co-production and maritime security.
Sources: DD India, 28 Oct 2026; The Times of India, 28 Oct 2026; ET Manufacturing (PTI), 28 Oct 2026; The Statesman, 28 Oct 2026; DT Next (PTI), 28 Oct 2026.
Pingback: Second-class: India rejects veto-less UNSC seat
Pingback: Modi in Gujarat: Rs 19,000 cr PM-KISAN payout today
Pingback: Israel vote: Netanyahu bloc stuck at 53 seats