US Intelligence chief Tulsi Gabbard to visit India, talks to include strengthening Indo-Pacific ties

US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has announced a diplomatic tour of the Indo-Pacific, which includes a visit to India. The trip is part of efforts to reinforce relationships and maintain open channels of communication in the region.

“I am #WheelsUp on a multi-nation trip to the Indo-Pacific, a region I know very well having grown up as a child of the Pacific. I'll be going to Japan, Thailand, and India, with a brief stop in France en route back to DC,” Gabbard posted on X, sharing a photograph of herself boarding an aircraft.

First Stop: Honolulu and the Indo-Pacific Command

Before heading to Asia, Gabbard will stop in Honolulu to meet with intelligence community partners and leaders at the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM). She will also visit American troops engaged in training exercises. These engagements underscore the US focus on regional security and cooperation.

Highlighting the broader goal of her visit, she stated, “Building strong relationships, understanding, and open lines of communication are vital to achieving President Trump's objectives of peace, freedom and prosperity.”

India Visit Marks a Milestone

This trip will be Gabbard’s first visit to India since being sworn in as the eighth Senate-confirmed DNI and the first female combat veteran to hold the role. India, a key partner for the US in the Indo-Pacific, is expected to feature prominently in her discussions.

Gabbard has previously engaged with Indian leadership. In February, she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his Washington visit for bilateral talks with President Donald Trump at the White House. She was the first US official to meet Modi at Blair House on 12 February, shortly after his arrival in Washington.

Following their meeting, Modi posted on X: “Met USA's Director of National Intelligence, @TulsiGabbard in Washington DC. Congratulated her on her confirmation. Discussed various aspects of the India-USA friendship, of which she's always been a strong votary.”

Deepening Strategic Partnerships

Gabbard’s visit is expected to focus on intelligence-sharing, defence cooperation, and regional security. India and the US have steadily strengthened their partnership, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, where both nations share concerns over stability and security.

With this visit, Gabbard aims to reinforce Washington’s commitment to its allies in the region while advancing intelligence cooperation. The outcomes of her discussions in India could play a crucial role in shaping future engagements between the two nations.