A significant milestone in U.S.-India defense relations was achieved with the successful conclusion of the 22nd Military Cooperation Group (MCG) meeting held at the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) Headquarters in Honolulu, Hawaii, on November 3-4, 2025. The meeting was co-chaired by Lt. Gen. Joshua M. Rudd, Deputy Commander of USINDOPACOM, and Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit, Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CISC).
The MCG focused on reviewing advancements under the U.S.-India Defence Framework Agreement, a strategic 10-year pact considered vital to 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 during the ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus in Kuala Lumpur.
Throughout the meeting, various topics pertinent to enhancing military collaboration were discussed, including:
– Logistics cooperation and sustainment planning
– Enhancements to joint military interoperability across all service branches
– Expansion of co-development and co-production efforts in defense technologies
– Improvements in intelligence and information-sharing mechanisms
– Strengthening regional coordination to ensure security and stability in the Indo-Pacific
The meeting also saw participation from representatives of multiple U.S. military commands, including U.S. Africa Command, U.S. Central Command, and U.S. Space Command, highlighting the extensive and multifaceted nature of U.S.-India defense engagements.
In reaffirming their commitment to a robust strategic partnership, the meeting emphasized shared democratic values and mutual priorities such as security, freedom of navigation, and economic prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
In their joint statement, both parties expressed a firm resolve to enhance operational collaboration, drive innovation in defense manufacturing, and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific through continued strategic dialogues and engagements.
