- Tuesday, March 18, 2025
US director of National Intelligence feels there is “huge opportunity” in expanding the India-US relationship
By: India Weekly
US PRESIDENT Donald Trump’s policy of ‘America First’ should not be misunderstood as America alone, US director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on Tuesday (18).
In an address at the Raisina Dialogue, she said there is “huge opportunity” in expanding the India-US relationship, and prime minister Narendra Modi and president Trump laid out the vision for boosting the overall bilateral ties in their meeting in Washington DC last month.
Gabbard said just like Trump’s ‘America First‘ policy, Modi is committed to the ‘India First’ approach.
It should not be misunderstood that ‘America First‘ means America alone, she said.
“I am confident that this partnership and friendship between our two countries will continue to grow,” she added.
Gabbard also described the Modi-Trump meeting in Washington DC as “reconnection of two old friends”.
Delving into geopolitical turmoil, Gabbard said President Trump is committed to ensuring peace and security.
Trump is unwavering in securing peace with strength, she said.
Meeting with Modi
Gabbard met Modi on Monday (17) and she was presented with ‘Gangajal’ from the Maha Kumbh mela in Prayagraj.
Gabbard presented a ‘Rudraksh mala’ to the prime minister, the statement said.
Modi conveyed his greetings to Trump and said that he and 1.4 billion people of India looked forward to welcoming him to India later this year.
After the meeting, Modi said both countries are committed to combating terrorism and enhancing maritime and cyber security cooperation.
The prime minister noted the special significance of Gabbard’s visit as the first high-level visit to India from the US in Trump’s second term.
Sikhs for Justice issue
In his meeting with Gabbard, defence minister Rajnath Singh conveyed India’s concerns over activities of Khalistani separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) on American soil and urged her to declare it as a terrorist entity, sources said.
Singh also apprised Gabbard about SFJ’s alleged links with Pakistani spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) as well as its “collaboration” with Babbar Khalsa militant group, and pressed for action against it, they said.
Singh flagged concerns over the SFJ, headed by Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, targeting various Hindu religious structures in the US and said such activities must be stopped, the sources said.
The SFJ is a banned organisation in India. Pannun is wanted by Indian probe agencies on various terror charges.
Separately, external affairs minister S Jaishankar also met Gabbard.
“Delighted to meet US DNI @TulsiGabbard this evening. A useful exchange on contemporary global and regional security challenges,” Jaishankar posted on ‘X’.
Gabbard arrived in Delhi Sunday (16) on a two-and-a-half-day trip in the first high-level visit to India by a top official of the Donald Trump administration. (PTI)
