Dr. Cherian Samuel, Research Fellow, at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (MP-IDSA), delivered a presentation on “From Agreed Minutes to Strategic Framework: Thirty Years of India-US Defence Cooperation (1995-2025)” during the Monday Morning Meeting held on 17 November 2025. Col. (Dr.) Rajneesh Singh (Retd.), Research Fellow, MP-IDSA, moderated the session. Ambassador Sujan R. Chinoy, Director General of MP-IDSA, participated in the meeting along with scholars from the Institute.

Executive Summary

The talk examined the evolution of India-US defence cooperation over the past three decades, situating it within broader geopolitical shifts. It traced the relationship from early phases of limited engagement and Cold War divergence to a gradual rapprochement and the emergence of a structured strategic partnership. Key milestones included early technology cooperation, the 2005 New Framework for Defence Cooperation and its renewal in 2015, and the subsequent institutionalisation of defence and security engagement through the 2+2 Dialogue. Recent developments highlighted the deepening of cooperation across air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace, supported by enhanced training, joint exercises, operational collaboration, and the adoption of advanced technologies. Initiatives such as defence procurement, offset programmes, military education and training, and aircraft carrier technology cooperation were discussed as important pillars of the partnership. At the same time, limitations in technology transfer and mixed outcomes under the Defence Technology and Trade Initiative were identified as continuing challenges.

Detailed Report

Col. Rajneesh Singh opened the session by explaining that India-US relations between 1947 and 1999 went through distinct phases. These included periods of limited cooperation, strategic divergence during the Cold War, and a gradual rapprochement in the later years. The nature of the relationship largely reflected the broader geopolitical dynamics of the time. He noted that a key foundation of the partnership was the India-US Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on technology transfer signed in 1984, followed by the visit of the US Secretary of Defense to New Delhi in 1986. Military cooperation subsequently expanded, beginning with the India–US Malabar exercise and later extending to a range of other joint exercises.

Beyond these developments, several other initiatives also strengthened bilateral ties. From the US perspective, a set of foundational agreements provided the legal basis for expanding military cooperation between India and the United States. A new framework for the India-US defence relationship was signed in 2005 as a ten-year agreement and was subsequently renewed in 2015. In addition, the India-US Strategic Dialogue, launched in 2010, offered high-level political and strategic guidance to the partnership. This mechanism was later replaced by the 2+2 Dialogue in 2018, further institutionalising defence and strategic coordination between the two countries.

Dr. Cherian Samuel began his presentation by referring to recent developments in India-US defence ties. He noted that Hon’ble Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh’s meeting with the US Secretary of War, Mr. Pete Hegseth, culminated in the signing of the Framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership. This agreement is expected to usher in a new phase in an already robust defence relationship. The India-US Joint Leaders’ Statement issued on 13 February 2025 further elevated military cooperation across all domains, including air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace by emphasising enhanced training, joint exercises, and operational collaboration, while integrating cutting-edge technologies. It also announced the launch of INDUS Innovation, an innovation bridge modelled on the successful INDUS-X platform. He further highlighted key foundational documents underpinning the partnership, including the India-US Defence Framework Agreement of 2015. Among defence procurements, a significant share has comprised MH-60R helicopters, air defence systems, and MQ-9B remotely piloted aircraft.

Dr. Samuel also highlighted other important areas of cooperation, including offset programmes, the International Military Education and Training (IMET) programme, and regular joint military exercises. He further referred to the recently concluded 8th meeting of the India-US Joint Working Group on Aircraft Carrier Technology Cooperation (JWGACTC), which operates under the auspices of the India-US Defence Technology and Trade Initiative (DTTI).

Dr. Samuel also noted several criticisms of the DTTI, including limited progress, failure to fully meet its stated objectives, and the continued restrictions on technology transfer from the US to India. He observed that the current phase of strategic engagement is shaped by decades of earlier strategic estrangement and persistent ambiguity in the relationship.

Dr. Samuel stated that recent developments have also raised concerns, particularly reports that India had paused plans to procure US defence equipment following the imposition of tariffs during the Trump administration. At the same time, he pointed out that there have been countervailing reports suggesting that talks have not been suspended and that joint military exercises continue uninterrupted. He emphasised that defence cooperation will remain a central pillar of India-US relations, and that future strategic convergence will be strongly influenced by shared concerns related to China and the evolving Indo-Pacific security environment.

Questions and Answers

The presentation was followed by an interactive Q&A session. Participants raised several questions on the future trajectory of India-US relations, particularly under the current political leadership in the US, and whether any positive shifts could be expected. Other queries focused on how France was able to provide India with the Rafale aircraft, whether India has developed adequate structures and institutions to effectively absorb advanced US technologies, and why the iCET initiative is led at the level of the National Security Adviser. Other observations and questions were also raised during the discussion. It was noted that the US has championed technology since the Second World War, emerging as a leading global exporter, while India’s participation in the Non-Aligned Movement was historically viewed with scepticism in Washington. Participants pointed out that technology sharing continues to be a sensitive issue, despite some degree of intelligence cooperation, and that India does not fall under a treaty-based alliance category with the US.

In response, the speaker clarified that intelligence sharing between India and the US does exist, but it is not comparable to the depth of cooperation within the Five Eyes framework. Instead, such exchanges are largely episodic and issue-specific rather than comprehensive or institutionalised. Responding to the queries, Dr. Samuel stated that 2005 was a transformative year for India-US relations, as defence cooperation and engagement expanded significantly in line with the broader deepening of bilateral ties. He noted that defence cooperation was formally articulated in the 2005 New Framework Agreement, and that the renewal of this framework in 2015 gave fresh momentum to the partnership. According to the underlying strategic logic, he argued, the relationship is likely to continue to grow with only minor hiccups, largely influenced by the orientation and priorities of the leadership, particularly on the US side.

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­Report was prepared by Mr. Rohit Kumar Sharma, Research Analyst, MP-IDSA.