New Delhi (March 17, 2025):
In a significant diplomatic and strategic engagement, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard held wide-ranging talks with India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday, focusing on ways to enhance India-US defense cooperation and intelligence sharing. The high-level meeting marks a crucial step in deepening bilateral ties between the two nations, especially in the backdrop of evolving global security challenges.
The meeting took place during Ms. Gabbard’s two-day visit to India, which is aimed at strengthening the overall strategic partnership between New Delhi and Washington, particularly in defense, counter-terrorism, cybersecurity, and advanced technology sharing.
Earlier on Sunday, Ms. Gabbard also met India’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval, where both leaders engaged in detailed discussions on enhancing intelligence collaboration and tackling shared security threats, including regional and global terrorism, cyber warfare, and maritime security.
The meeting between Rajnath Singh and Tulsi Gabbard focused on expanding bilateral defense ties, including technology transfer, joint military exercises, intelligence sharing, and defense manufacturing partnerships.
In a social media post following the meeting, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh shared:
“Glad to meet US Director of National Intelligence, Ms. Tulsi Gabbard. We held discussions on various issues, including defense and intelligence sharing, with the aim of deepening India-US strategic partnership.”
According to sources, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to an open and free Indo-Pacific, emphasizing the importance of defense cooperation in ensuring regional security and stability.
The discussion also touched upon joint efforts to counter terrorism and violent extremism, with a focus on sharing real-time intelligence and strengthening military-to-military communications to address emerging threats.
Ms. Gabbard’s visit coincided with an exclusive conclave of top global intelligence leaders, held in India to deliberate on innovative approaches to international security challenges, data protection, and cross-border threats. She and NSA Ajit Doval reportedly engaged in one-on-one discussions on the sidelines of this summit, underlining the strategic importance of closer intelligence collaboration between India and the US.
While no official statement was released on the specifics of the defense agreements under discussion, both India and the US are expected to pursue new frameworks for defense technology co-development, especially in cyber defense, aerospace, and advanced surveillance systems.
Ms. Gabbard’s engagements are seen as crucial in aligning India and the US in their broader strategic goals, including maintaining regional balance, safeguarding democratic values, and countering the influence of hostile state and non-state actors in South Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
Her visit also comes as India and the US continue to expand the scope of their Quad partnership (alongside Japan and Australia) and strengthen coordination in critical areas like supply chain security, semiconductor cooperation, and emerging technologies.
The meetings concluded with a mutual understanding to continue high-level engagements and ensure swift implementation of agreed initiatives, signaling a new phase of robust India-US cooperation on defense and security fronts.
