Rajnath Singh Tells US Defence Secretary Hegseth to Adopt Zero Tolerance Towards Terrorism

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held discussions with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth in Cebu, the Philippines, on Wednesday, reviewing India-US defence cooperation and calling for an uncompromising international response to countries supporting terrorism.

According to the Indian government’s account of the meeting, Singh emphasised the need for a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and nations that assist, train or finance terrorist organisations. He also expressed India’s appreciation for continued American cooperation in combating cross-border terrorism, while Hegseth reiterated Washington’s support for India’s efforts.

A major focus of the talks was the progress of the 10-year India-US Defence Framework Agreement, signed in October 2025. The framework aims to expand cooperation in military technology, information sharing, defence equipment co-production and strategic coordination.

Both leaders reviewed regional security developments, particularly the evolving situation in the Indo-Pacific region. They also discussed strengthening military-to-military exchanges, improving maritime security cooperation and developing more resilient defence supply chains.

Singh described the meeting as productive in a social media post, saying the partnership remained important for maintaining a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific. Hegseth also highlighted the anniversary of the framework and said the two countries had explored ways to deepen their cooperation.

According to India’s Defence Ministry, both sides acknowledged progress under existing security agreements and discussed measures to improve operational readiness, technology transfers and integration between their defence industries.

The discussions also covered the recent Yudh Abhyas military exercise, which demonstrated growing interoperability between the two armed forces. Agreements such as the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), and Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) have helped strengthen logistical support, secure communications and geospatial information sharing.

Despite diplomatic differences on other issues, India-US defence ties have remained an important pillar of bilateral relations. Both countries reaffirmed their commitment to expanding the partnership through closer coordination, advanced technology collaboration and enhanced regional security cooperation.