NEW DELHI, Oct. 28: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held talks with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Cebu, Philippines, on Wednesday to review India-US defence relations and explore ways to strengthen bilateral military cooperation.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus), a multilateral forum bringing together Southeast Asian countries and their major regional and international partners.
The discussions provided an opportunity for the two defence leaders to assess the state of bilateral defence engagement and consider areas in which cooperation could be advanced.
Both ministers are attending the ADMM-Plus gathering in Cebu, where defence representatives are engaging on regional security issues and cooperation among participating countries.
The Singh-Hegseth meeting comes against the backdrop of an expanding defence relationship between India and the United States, encompassing military exercises, defence technology, equipment procurement and exchanges between their armed forces.
Defence cooperation has become an important component of the broader India-US strategic partnership, particularly as both countries seek to strengthen their capabilities and maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
For India, the relationship offers opportunities to improve military interoperability, access advanced defence technologies and support the development of domestic defence manufacturing capabilities.
The United States, meanwhile, regards India as an important defence partner in the Indo-Pacific, where maritime security, regional military developments and the protection of international trade routes remain significant strategic concerns.
The ADMM-Plus forum provides a setting for these discussions alongside wider regional security engagement.
The grouping comprises the 11 members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and eight dialogue partners: India, China, Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Russia and the United States.
It serves as a platform for defence dialogue and practical cooperation on shared security challenges, including maritime security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
India's participation reflects its continuing engagement with ASEAN-led regional institutions and its emphasis on defence partnerships across Southeast Asia.
The meeting between Singh and Hegseth also carries significance because the India-US defence relationship extends beyond equipment purchases to include military-to-military engagement and cooperation in emerging technologies.
However, no specific agreements, procurement decisions or new defence initiatives were announced in the initial account of Wednesday's talks.
Details of any further understandings reached during the meeting are yet to be made public.
The interaction nevertheless provided a diplomatic opportunity for New Delhi and Washington to maintain high-level defence engagement while participating in a broader regional security forum.
