New Delhi, March 17 – Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard held discussions on Monday, focusing on strengthening defense, technology, and intelligence-sharing ties between India and the United States.
According to an official statement, both leaders also reviewed bilateral strategic cooperation in the maritime domain. Gabbard arrived in New Delhi early Sunday for a two-and-a-half-day visit, marking the first high-level visit by a senior official from U.S. President Donald Trump's administration to India.
Expressing his pleasure over the meeting, Rajnath Singh shared on social media that he had a productive discussion with the U.S. National Intelligence Chief, exploring ways to deepen India-U.S. cooperation. The statement highlighted that they discussed significant advancements in joint military exercises, strategic cooperation, integration of defense industrial supply chains, and information-sharing mechanisms, particularly in maritime security.
The two sides are also believed to have deliberated on the evolving security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific, particularly concerning China's growing military assertiveness in the region. Additionally, discussions included opportunities for collaboration in cutting-edge defense innovations and specialized technologies that align with the shared strategic interests of both nations.
During the talks, Singh expressed gratitude for Gabbard's deep appreciation of Indian culture and heritage, acknowledging that such sentiments strengthen the friendship between India and the U.S. He also emphasized that the recent joint statement issued following the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump reaffirmed the growing strength of the India-U.S. bilateral defense partnership.
A day earlier, Gabbard met with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, where they co-chaired a global intelligence summit attended by top security officials from several countries. Their discussions reportedly centered on enhancing intelligence-sharing mechanisms and exploring ways for closer cooperation in security-related matters in line with the India-U.S. global strategic partnership.
Gabbard was joined at the security conference by Daniel Rogers, Chief of Canada's Intelligence Service, and Jonathan Powell, the UK’s National Security Advisor. The closed-door session focused on counter-terrorism efforts and addressing emerging threats posed by new technologies.
While no official statement was issued regarding the high-level intelligence discussions, sources suggest that the meetings aimed at fostering deeper cooperation in global security and intelligence-sharing to tackle evolving security challenges.
