'Critical anchor': US Secretary of War Hegseth praises India, pitches Javelin anti-tank missile

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth praised India as "a critical anchor" for maintaining the balance of power across the Indo‑Pacific. Hegseth made the remarks at an event in Singapore over the weekend, just days after US President Donald Trump's visit to China."In South Asia, India is a critical anchor to hold the line. A powerful India acting in its own self‑interest advances our shared goal of maintaining a balance of power in the region," Hegseth said.He also discussed plans to manufacture the Javelin anti‑tank guided missile (ATGM) in India. The Indian Army had selected the Lockheed Martin and RTX (Raytheon) Javelin, but India eventually procured the Israeli Spike family of ATGMs after disagreements over transfer of technology (ToT). Both RTX and Lockheed Martin currently have a strong presence in India."We've also committed to pursuing co‑production with India to advance capabilities like Javelin anti‑tank guided munitions. Real, tangible steps to improve the collective readiness of our forces. This kind of industrial muscle isn't just a long‑term goal; it is an immediate operational imperative," Hegseth said.The US experienced shortages of the system after sending more than 10,000 Javelins to Ukraine during its fight with Russian forces, according to a US military report. The Washington, DC‑based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) warned that US stockpiles fell after large transfers to Ukraine that production at the time could not immediately replace. Opening a production line in India could help address that shortfall.India is also developing a similar system, the Man‑Portable Anti‑Tank Guided Missile (MPATGM).Hegseth highlighted growing interoperability between the two countries, noting the Master Ship Repair Agreements (MSRAs) that allow each country to repair the other's ships in port. "It's building heavy industry and logistics capacity to sustain high‑end military operations, including the ability to repair and maintain our shared platforms and support US Navy vessels operating forward in the theatre," he said.The remarks come just days after the QUAD foreign ministers' meeting in New Delhi.