Gabbard to Travel to India to Strengthen Intelligence Collaboration Post Modi-Trump Pact
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Synopsis
Tulsi Gabbard, the US intelligence chief, is visiting India to enhance intelligence sharing as pledged by PM Modi and President Trump. Her trip includes participation in the Raisina Dialogue and meetings with Indian officials.
Key Takeaways
- Tulsi Gabbard becomes the first cabinet official to visit India.
- Her visit follows a commitment to strengthen intelligence sharing.
- Participation in the Raisina Dialogue conference next week.
- Gabbard emphasizes building strong relationships for peace and prosperity.
- She has a history of advocating for US-India ties.
New York, March 12 (NationPress) Tulsi Gabbard, the US intelligence chief, is set to become the first cabinet member to visit India. This visit aims to follow up on the commitment made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump to bolster intelligence sharing.
The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) made a stop at the US military’s Indo-Pacific Command (PACOM) on Tuesday as part of her trip, where she will engage with Indian leaders and officials.
Next week, she is scheduled to attend the geopolitical security conference, Raisina Dialogue, in New Delhi, an invitation extended by PM Modi during their meeting in Washington last month.
Before departing from Washington, she stated in an X post that her trip’s goal is to foster robust relationships, as understanding and open communication are essential for achieving President Trump's aims of peace, freedom, and prosperity.
Her itinerary also includes visits to Japan, Thailand, and France.
During PM Modi's recent visit to Washington, his initial official meeting was with Gabbard, where he posted on X: “Discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, of which she's always been a strong votary.”
External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal elaborated in a post that discussions were centered on enhancing intelligence cooperation in areas such as counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and emerging threats.
In their joint statement, PM Modi and Trump expressed their commitment to “breaking new ground to support and sustain the overseas deployments of the US and Indian militaries in the Indo-Pacific, including enhanced logistics and intelligence sharing.”
While serving in the House of Representatives, Gabbard was a strong proponent of establishing closer ties with India.
The DNI leads the US Intelligence Community, which includes various intelligence agencies along with the intelligence functions of military services and manages the National Intelligence Program.
Gabbard, a practicing Hindu, is of Samoan and Irish descent.
Even during her time in Congress, she served as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserves and is a decorated combat veteran, having been deployed to Iraq.
Elected as a member of the Democratic Party, she ran for the party’s presidential nomination in 2020 but was unsuccessful. Last year, she switched to the Republican Party and endorsed Trump.
