China’s Worst Nightmare: US, India Sign 10-Year Military Pact As Pentagon Declares ‘Ties Have Never Been Stronger’ – A Game-Changer For Indo-Pacific Power Balance | World News
Beijing has just received the news it was afraid of. The United States and India signed a massive 10-year Defense Framework on Friday, with Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth declaring that American-Indian “defense ties have never been stronger.” This isn’t just another deal; This demonstrates Washington’s determination to make India its key partner against China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.
The Framework That Changes Everything
Hegseth met Defense Minister Rajnath Singh in Malaysia to sign the agreement, calling it “the cornerstone of regional stability”. Simply put, the United States and India are now united for the long term against common threats.
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“We are improving our coordination, sharing information and engaging in technology cooperation,” Hegseth said in his statement at X, emphasizing the depth of military integration pursued by both countries.
Following the signing, Hegseth expressed strong optimism, calling it “one of the most important of the US-India partnerships.” He said the alliance is based on common interests, trust and the common goal of a secure, prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
I just met @rajnathsingh Will sign the 10-year US-India Defense Framework. This advances our defense partnership, which is the cornerstone of regional stability and deterrence.
We are improving our coordination, information sharing and technology cooperation. Our defense ties have never been… pic.twitter.com/hPmkZdMDv2 — Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) 31 October 2025
Why Does This Matter Now?
The War Minister described the 10-year framework as “ambitious” and said it created “a road map for deeper and more meaningful cooperation going forward.” This is not vague diplomatic language, but a declaration that America sees India as indispensable to its Asian strategy.
“This underscores America’s long-term commitment to our common security and strong partnership,” Hegseth said, making clear that this agreement will survive election cycles and political changes.
Timing is Everything
The agreement was signed during the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting-Plus in Kuala Lumpur, where regional security was a key focus. A few days ago, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the ASEAN East Asia Summit in the same city.
These back-to-back meetings show that the US-India partnership remains strong despite trade tensions, including Trump increasing tariffs on India on Russian oil.
The fact that the world’s two most powerful armies have joined forces for a decade represents a strategic nightmare for China. The Indo-Pacific balance of power has shifted dramatically. And there’s nothing Beijing can do about it.
