NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with United States Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard in New Delhi on Monday. During their meeting, PM Modi presented Gabbard with Gangajal from the recently held Maha Kumbh, while the US intelligence chief reciprocated with a gift of tulsi beads.
Earlier in the day, Gabbard engaged in bilateral discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, centering on enhancing defense and security relations between the two nations. According to sources cited by news agency PTI, various approaches to strengthen defense and security ties were discussed. “It was a pleasure to meet with the US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in New Delhi. We deliberated on a broad spectrum of issues, including defense and information sharing, with the goal of further solidifying the India-US partnership,” Rajnath Singh mentioned following the meeting.
The interaction with PM Modi followed a meeting the previous day between national security advisor Ajit Doval and Gabbard, who is on a two-and-a-half-day visit to India. Doval and Gabbard’s discussion mainly revolved around intelligence sharing and security collaboration, aiming to align with the strategic partnership between India and the US, and was deemed a “productive discussion.”