Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Tulsi Gabbard, the newly appointed Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in the Donald Trump administration, on Wednesday (local time) during his visit to the United States. The two leaders engaged in discussions on India-USA relations, particularly in the areas of intelligence cooperation and strategic security.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Prime Minister Modi congratulated Gabbard on her Senate confirmation and acknowledged her longstanding support for strengthening ties between the two nations. “Met USA’s Director of National Intelligence, @TulsiGabbard in Washington DC. Congratulated her on her confirmation. Discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, of which she’s always been a strong votary,” Modi wrote.
According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Modi fondly recalled his past interactions with Gabbard. The discussions encompassed a broad spectrum of topics, including counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, emerging threats, and intelligence sharing. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to fostering a secure, stable, and rules-based international order.
Modi’s visit to the US includes a meeting with President Donald Trump, along with other high-profile engagements. Upon his arrival at Blair House, he was greeted by enthusiastic members of the Indian diaspora, who welcomed him with chants of ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Modi Modi.’
Gabbard, a former Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii and a military veteran, is the first Hindu-American to hold the position of DNI, overseeing 18 intelligence agencies in the US. She was confirmed by a narrow 52-48 Senate vote, with all Democrats opposing her nomination. Republican Senator Mitch McConnell was the only member of his party to vote against her.
Gabbard’s appointment comes amid scrutiny over her past foreign policy stances. Some lawmakers have expressed concerns regarding her perceived pro-Russia stance, her controversial meeting with deposed Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and her past remarks regarding Edward Snowden, the former NSA contractor who leaked classified intelligence and sought asylum in Russia.
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence was established in response to intelligence failures highlighted by the September 11, 2001, attacks, which killed nearly 3,000 people in the US.
As India and the United States continue to strengthen their strategic partnership, Modi’s engagement with Gabbard signals a deepening of intelligence cooperation between the two democracies in an evolving global security landscape.
