Ten-year pact signals strategic priorities in Indo-Pacific power play

By TN Ashok

In a striking display of geopolitical pragmatism, India and the United States finalized a sweeping 10-year defence framework agreement this week, even as a bitter tariff dispute threatens to derail a $530 billion trade deal between the world’s largest democracies.

The defence pact, signed after talks between U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth and Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the sidelines of an Asian security conference, underscores how security imperatives in the Indo-Pacific are overriding economic frictions that have brought bilateral trade negotiations to a standstill.

The timing is remarkable. President Donald Trump has imposed punishing 50% tariffs on Indian imports, including a 25% penalty

See Full Page