Rajnath Singh speaks to US defence secretary Pete Hegseth; reviews defence ties, thanks US for anti-terror support

NEW DELHI: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday held a phone conversation with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth , during which both leaders reviewed ongoing and upcoming initiatives to enhance defence cooperation between India and the United States, officials said.

In their first conversation since the May 7–10 military conflict between India and Pakistan, Singh thanked Hegseth for the “unwavering support” the US has extended to India in its fight against terrorism .

“Excellent discussion to review the ongoing and new initiatives to further deepen India-US defence partnership and strengthen cooperation in capacity building,” Singh said in a post on X.

“Conveyed my deep appreciation for the unwavering support extended by the US to India in its fight against terrorism. Looking forward to meeting him at an early date,” he added.

The two leaders discussed key areas of strategic collaboration, with the focus on bolstering bilateral defence ties and counter-terror capabilities. Officials said the exchange reaffirmed the importance both countries place on maintaining a strong and resilient defence partnership.