In a significant step towards bolstering U.S.-India strategic cooperation, the United States Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Ms. Tulsi Gabbard, met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on February 12, 2025. Their discussions focused on deepening intelligence-sharing mechanisms, counter-terrorism collaboration, cybersecurity, and emerging global security challenges.
This high-level engagement comes at a time when both nations are strengthening their strategic partnership to address evolving geopolitical threats and enhance global security frameworks.
Strengthening Bilateral Intelligence Cooperation
During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi and DNI Gabbard discussed mechanisms to expand intelligence cooperation, with a focus on:
✔ Counter-terrorism efforts – Enhancing joint operations to combat global and regional terrorism threats
✔ Cybersecurity collaboration – Strengthening real-time intelligence sharing on cyber threats, misinformation campaigns, and digital security
✔ Emerging technologies & defense intelligence – Cooperation on AI-driven surveillance, space security, and hybrid warfare tactics
✔ Regional and global security challenges – Addressing concerns related to Indo-Pacific stability, global terrorism networks, and intelligence-led policy initiatives
The leaders reaffirmed their shared vision for a free, open, and rules-based international order, emphasizing the need for greater intelligence coordination between democratic nations to counter growing security threats.
A Trusted Strategic Partnership
The meeting underscored the deepening trust between India and the United States in intelligence-sharing and defense cooperation. Prime Minister Modi fondly recalled his previous interactions with Ms. Gabbard, recognizing her role in fostering U.S.-India ties across strategic domains.
✔ India and the U.S. have signed multiple intelligence-sharing agreements, including the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) and the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA)
✔ Bilateral counter-terrorism initiatives have significantly improved intelligence coordination, particularly in combating terror financing and cross-border extremism
✔ Cybersecurity collaboration is becoming a core pillar of Indo-U.S. ties, with joint efforts to prevent cyberattacks on critical infrastructure
Regional and Global Security Alignment
The discussion also covered ongoing geopolitical shifts, including developments in the Indo-Pacific, Afghanistan, and countering China’s growing intelligence operations. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to working closely on strategic intelligence-sharing to uphold regional stability.
DNI Tulsi Gabbard praised India’s counter-terrorism efforts and its leadership in global security forums, reiterating the U.S.’s commitment to supporting India’s security interests.
Looking Ahead: A Roadmap for Enhanced Intelligence Collaboration
The U.S.-India intelligence partnership is expected to see further advancements, with both nations focusing on:
✔ Expanding real-time intelligence sharing on terror threats
✔ Joint cybersecurity initiatives to counter misinformation and cyber warfare
✔ Strengthening AI-driven intelligence for predictive threat analysis
✔ Deepening defense intelligence coordination through QUAD and other security alliances
The meeting solidifies the U.S.-India security alliance, marking a step toward a more integrated intelligence framework to address 21st-century security challenges.
As both nations prepare for upcoming bilateral security dialogues, this engagement sets the stage for unprecedented intelligence cooperation, reinforcing the Indo-U.S. strategic partnership as a key pillar of global security.