US National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard landed in India on Sunday, March 16, for a three-day trip aimed at deepening security cooperation. During her first day of the visit, she met with Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and presided over a high-level intelligence conclave that included top brass from several countries.
Talks between Gabbard and Doval focused on strengthening intelligence exchange and further cooperation under the India-US global strategic partnership. Both sides discussed ways to counter terrorism, fight terror financing, and deal with threats from emerging technologies, sources quoted by Indian media said. The Indian side also brought up concerns about anti-India forces based abroad, especially pro-Khalistan forces.
The intelligence conclave had the participation of major world players, including Canada’s spy chief Daniel Rogers. His attendance was significant in light of the current diplomatic tensions between India and Canada after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made allegations in 2023 of possible Indian involvement in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. No official word came out on the closed-door deliberations.
Besides the US and Canada, Australian, German, New Zealand, and other allied country intelligence officials attended the talks, which indicated that there was a wider drive to strengthen worldwide intelligence collaboration.
Gabbard’s Indian visit is her second foreign trip since taking office last month. She had also visited Germany recently to attend the Munich Security Conference soon after being confirmed as the US intelligence director in February. Last month, she had also met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the latter’s Washington visit when both leaders talked on global security challenges, such as the conflict situations in Ukraine and West Asia.
Gabbard will speak before the Raisina Dialogue on Tuesday, March 18 in New Delhi when she is going to present her vision for the cooperation of intelligence and global security challenges.