Washington: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Tulsi Gabbard, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, to discuss strengthening India-U.S. ties, with a particular focus on intelligence cooperation in counter-terrorism and emerging threats.
PM Modi also congratulated Gabbard, a prominent Hindu-American, on her confirmation as the country’s top intelligence official, which was finalized on Wednesday.
“Met USA’s Director of National Intelligence, @TulsiGabbard, in Washington DC. Congratulated her on her confirmation and discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, of which she has always been a strong supporter,” PM Modi shared on X.
According to Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the talks also covered cybersecurity and strategies to address evolving security challenges.
PM Modi Meets US Intelligence Chief Tulsi Gabbard, Focuses on Counter-Terrorism and Cybersecurity
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a productive meeting with U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in Washington, D.C., discussing enhanced intelligence cooperation in counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, and emerging threats.
PM Modi arrived in the U.S. capital on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. local time (Thursday, 4 a.m. IST) after a visit to France, where he co-chaired the Artificial Intelligence Action Summit with French President Emmanuel Macron.
On Thursday, PM Modi is set to hold bilateral talks with former U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House. “Our nations will keep working closely for the benefit of our people and for a better future for our planet,” Modi shared on X.
Gabbard Sworn In as Director of National Intelligence
Earlier on Wednesday, Tulsi Gabbard was sworn in as the Director of National Intelligence in the Oval Office, just hours after receiving Senate confirmation. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi administered the oath, while Trump praised Gabbard as “an American of extraordinary courage and patriotism.”
Trump also highlighted her military service, noting that she was deployed three times with the Army National Guard and humorously remarked on her background as a former Democratic Congresswoman from Hawaii, saying, “Can you believe that?”
Gabbard, 43, faced bipartisan skepticism regarding her qualifications to oversee U.S. intelligence agencies. However, she secured Senate confirmation with a 52-48 vote after two months of intense deliberations.
Following her swearing-in, Gabbard thanked Trump for his trust and vowed to reform the intelligence community, stating:
“Unfortunately, the American people have very little trust in the intelligence community, largely because they’ve seen the weaponization and politicization of an entity that is supposed to be purely focused on ensuring our national security.”
