Their discussion, held just hours after Gabbard’s meeting with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, centered on India-U.S. security cooperation and concerns over anti-India activities by the banned Khalistani outfit Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) operating on American soil.

Strengthening India-U.S. Security Cooperation

Taking to social media, PM Modi expressed his satisfaction with the meeting, emphasizing the shared commitment of both nations to counter-terrorism, maritime security, and cybersecurity.

“Glad to welcome @TulsiGabbard to India. Exchanged views on further advancing the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Both countries are committed to combating terrorism and enhancing maritime and cybersecurity cooperation,” PM Modi posted on X.

Gabbard’s Visit and Strategic Discussions

Gabbard arrived in Delhi early Sunday for a two-and-a-half-day visit as part of a multinational tour. Her itinerary has included high-level talks with Indian officials on intelligence collaboration, defense relations, and cybersecurity.

Her visit follows PM Modi’s trip to Washington in February, where he met with Gabbard and recognized her as a strong advocate for India-U.S. relations.

As part of her engagements, Gabbard participated in key security discussions with intelligence and defense officials from 20 countries at a conclave chaired by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

The event, organized by the National Security Council Secretariat, has been held alongside the Raisina Dialogue since 2022, fostering global cooperation on security challenges.

A Strengthening Alliance

This marks Gabbard’s second international visit since assuming office, following her participation in the Munich Security Conference in Germany. Her visit to India underscores the deepening India-U.S. partnership, particularly in counter-terrorism, defense collaboration, and strategic security interests.

With President Trump’s second term underway, both nations are poised to strengthen their cooperation further, reinforcing their shared vision for global stability and security.

Abdollahian was expected to fly to India for the Raisina Dialogue scheduled on March 3 and 4. But, the Iranian government has told the conference’s organizers that the nation’s foreign minister is unable to go to India for the event.

Iran got upset with the promotional video of the Raisina Dialogue, which was published nearly a month ago. The video showed a brief shot of Iranian women cutting their hair in protest, placed next to the footage of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi.

The 110-second movie depicts women cutting their hair in protest after Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman, was detained by Iran’s morality police for donning a “inappropriate” hijab.

The Iranian embassy, which was getting ready for Abdollahian’s visit to India, was disappointed by it. According to sources cited in a report by The Indian Express, the embassy complained to the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) and India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MEA) about the depiction of their President standing with the demonstrators. Additionally, they demanded that the segment be taken out of the promotional video.

India’s premier conference, the Raisina Dialogue, is run by ORF in collaboration with MEA.

The conference’s main themes are geopolitics and geoeconomics, which are committed to tackling the most difficult problems the world community is currently experiencing.

Heads of state, cabinet ministers, and representatives of local governments participate in the Dialogue as a multi-stakeholder, cross-sector conversation with thought leaders from the private sector, the media, and academia.

The G-20 Foreign Ministers’ meeting will take place on March 1 and 2. More than 20 foreign ministers are anticipated to attend. As the Raisina Dialogue is scheduled immediately following the meeting, it is anticipated that some ministers will stick around and attend the gathering.