U.S.-India Deepen Defence Partnership at 22nd Military Cooperation Group Meeting in Honolulu
Honolulu, November 4, 2025 — The 22nd Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting between the United States and India concluded at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) Headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaii, from November 3 to 4, 2025. This significant meeting was co-led by Lt. Gen. Joshua M. Rudd, Deputy Commander of USINDOPACOM, and Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC).
Strengthening the U.S.-India Defence Framework
The MCG evaluated the progress made under the U.S.-India Defence Framework Agreement, a 10-year strategic agreement that is a vital component of the U.S.-India Major Defence Partnership. This framework was recently renewed by U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth and India's Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh at the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Kuala Lumpur on October 31, 2025.
Focus on Cooperation and Interoperability
During the meeting, discussions encompassed a broad range of subjects including:
| Logistics cooperation and sustainment planning |
| Enhancing joint military interoperability across all service branches |
| Expanding co-development and co-production of defence technologies |
| Improving intelligence and information-sharing mechanisms |
| Strengthening regional coordination for Indo-Pacific security and stability |
Participants from several U.S. military commands, such as U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Central Command, and U.S. Space Command, also took part, illustrating the breadth of U.S.-India defence cooperation across various geographical and functional fields.
Shared Vision for Regional Security
The event reaffirmed that the strategic partnership between the U.S. and India is rooted in shared democratic principles and a mutual dedication to security, freedom of navigation, and prosperity within the Indo-Pacific region.
In a joint statement, the two nations emphasized their commitment to enhancing operational collaboration, encouraging innovation in defence production, and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific via ongoing strategic engagement.
