The director of the US's National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard has arrived in India for a crucial three-day visit, marking the first senior official visit from the Trump administration to the country.
Her trip is centred around high-level security discussions and participation in the Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier geopolitical and geo-economic forum.
Gabbard landed in New Delhi on Sunday and is scheduled to meet Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.
Media reports indicate that Bangladesh-related issues may feature in their discussions.
As part of her broader Indo-Pacific tour, she will also travel to Japan, Thailand, and France.
According to sources cited by the Hindustan Times, Gabbard is expected to engage with top Indian leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She will also deliver a keynote address at the Raisina Dialogue on 18 March, though details of her itinerary remain undisclosed by both Indian and US authorities.
Her visit follows a recent trip to Germany, where she attended the Munich Security Conference after assuming office as DNI in February.
Shortly after arriving in India, she joined intelligence and security officials from around 20 countries for a conclave chaired by Ajit Doval.
The National Security Council Secretariat has hosted this closed-door security forum on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue since 2022.
While the specifics of the conclave remain undisclosed, sources suggest discussions centred on intelligence-sharing, counterterrorism, terror financing, and emerging security threats.
Indian officials reportedly raised concerns regarding anti-India activities from foreign territories, including pro-Khalistan elements.
Doval is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with intelligence and security officials attending the conclave, which has been referred to as the Raisina Security Dialogue or the Raisina Intelligence Forum in previous editions.
Representatives from Canada, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Arab Emirates are among those present, with speculation over a potential meeting of senior officials from the "Five Eyes" intelligence alliance comprising Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US.
Gabbard has maintained a low profile regarding her Indo-Pacific visit, offering minimal updates on social media.
In a post on 11 March, she stated that her travels are aimed at fostering "strong relationships, understanding, and open lines of communication" to further Trump's agenda of "peace, freedom, and prosperity."
India has previously raised concerns over the alleged persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh in diplomatic engagements with Washington.
The issue was discussed during a conversation between Modi and then-US President Joe Biden, as well as during Modi’s recent meeting with President Trump at the White House. I
Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has also addressed Bangladesh in his discussions with senior US officials.
As global security challenges evolve, Gabbard’s visit underscores the deepening cooperation between India and the US in counterterrorism and intelligence-sharing, with the Indo-Pacific remaining a key focus of strategic engagement.