The term COMPACT refers to the Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce & Technology initiative, a strategic framework launched by the leaders of the United States and India. This initiative was introduced by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi around February 2025 to strengthen the bilateral relationship across defense, technology, and trade sectors. It was created to solve the problem of needing a results-driven agenda to deepen the Major Defense Partnership and accelerate commerce, building on previous trust-building efforts.
The framework operates through several key mechanisms, including a commitment to a new ten-year framework for the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership. A major economic provision is the goal to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, known as "Mission 500". In the defense and technology sphere, it includes the formation of the Autonomous Systems Industry Alliance (ASIA) to drive AI-enabled defense innovations, particularly in counter-drone and maritime security systems.
COMPACT connects to and strengthens existing defense and technology cooperation, such as the iCET (Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology). It also builds upon foundational defense agreements like the COMCASA, BECA, and LEMOA, which were instrumental in fostering intelligence sharing and logistical coordination. The initiative is a recent development, and while it is a new framework, it is designed to accelerate and deepen the existing U.S.-India strategic partnership, rather than replacing a specific prior act.