Washington DC [US], March 21 (HBTV): US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard's visit to India underscored the long-standing India-US relationship, strengthened by the close ties between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, according to a statement from the office of the DNI.

Gabbard recently visited India as part of her multi-nation tour of the Indo-Pacific region. During her visit, she engaged in several bilateral meetings with PM Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. She also attended the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.

According to the statement, her discussions in India focused on intelligence-sharing, defence cooperation, counterterrorism, and transnational security threats.

Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue, Gabbard highlighted the collective efforts toward achieving President Trump's vision of a peaceful, free, secure, and prosperous world.

'President Trump remains unwavering in his commitment to achieving peace through a strategy rooted in realism and pragmatism,' Gabbard said. 'Securing peace through strength requires strong leadership with a clear-eyed and realistic understanding of global challenges and opportunities, a commitment to fostering cultural and economic ties that reduce the likelihood of conflict, and a dedication to reinforcing mutual interests.'

Gabbard thanked PM Modi for inviting her to the Raisina Dialogue and emphasized the enduring strength of India-US ties.

'I especially want to thank Prime Minister Modi for the invitation, to get together with new friends and greet old friends from across the Indo-Pacific region. I leave right after our dialogue to head back to Washington, DC, but it has been a constructive few days of engagement with our Indian counterparts, building on the momentum created by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi's joint statement issued in Washington DC after their Oval Office meeting,' she said.

As part of her Indo-Pacific tour, Gabbard also visited Hawaii, Japan, and Thailand, where she met with top intelligence officials and diplomats.

On her return to Washington DC, she made a stop in France to meet with US personnel and French officials for discussions on counterterrorism and other joint efforts. (ANI)