U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi on March 17 to discuss the strategic security partnership between India and the United States.
Gabbard is the first cabinet level official to visit India following President Donald Trump’s inauguration. According to official statements, strategic security cooperation, defence technology collaboration, and intelligence sharing were the main topics of discussion during the meetings.
During her meeting with PM Modi, Gabbard’s role in strengthening bilateral ties was highlighted. The Prime Minister reflected on his recent interaction with her during his Washington, D.C., visit last month and appreciated her efforts in deepening cooperation in defence, critical technologies, and counter-terrorism.
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Modi also recalled his “extremely productive” discussions with the U.S. President Donald Trump and emphasized the significance of Gabbard’s visit as the first high-level engagement from the U.S. in Trump’s second term.
Honoring Gabbard’s Hindu faith, PM Modi gifted her a pitcher containing water from the Triveni Sangam collected during the recently concluded Maha Kumbh, the largest Hindu gathering on earth.
Glad to welcome @TulsiGabbard to India. Exchanged views on further advancing the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Both countries are committed to combating terrorism and enhancing maritime and cyber security cooperation.@DNIGabbard pic.twitter.com/kAg7efPv6n
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 17, 2025
In return, Gabbard presented Modi with a ‘Tulsi mala', a kind of rosary traditionally used for meditation and prayer, representing purity and devotion.
The Prime Minister conveyed warm greetings to President Trump and expressed eagerness to hosting him in India later this year for the Quad Summit.
Earlier in the day, Gabbard met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to discuss defence innovation, military interoperability, and intelligence cooperation. “Both leaders emphasised that strategic security remains a vital pillar of the comprehensive global strategic cooperation between the two nations,” a release stated.
Happy to have met the US Director of National Intelligence Ms @TulsiGabbard in New Delhi. We discussed a wide range of issues which include defence and information sharing, aiming to further deepen the India-US partnership. pic.twitter.com/DTUgJIgeCN
— Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) March 17, 2025
Following the meeting, Singh posted on X, “Happy to have met the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, in New Delhi. We discussed a wide range of issues including defence and information sharing, aiming to further deepen the India-U.S. partnership.”
Gabbard’s visit is part of her multi-nation Indo-Pacific tour, which includes stops in Japan and Thailand. As the newly appointed U.S. intelligence chief, she now oversees 18 American intelligence agencies, including the CIA, FBI, and NSA.
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