No bounds to where US and India looking to cooperate: Tulsi Gabbard

New Delhi [India], March 17 (ANI): Referring to the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President
Donald Trump
US intelligence leader Tulsi Gabbard stated on Monday that the collaboration between India and the United States can extend without bounds.

“There seem to be virtually no limits to the areas in which the United States and India aim to collaborate,” stated Gabbard, who is currently visiting India.

India and the U.S. have been working closely to enhance their abilities in AI and broaden supply chains for essential technologies. Central to this collaboration is the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), which serves as a strategic blueprint encompassing fields like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, semiconductors, and wireless communications. This effort seeks to fortify tech connections between both countries, bolstering stability within crucial industries.

In 2022, India and the U.S. committed to establishing the India-U.S. Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), which came about during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s trip to the United States. The inaugural iCET conference took place in Washington, D.C., in January 2023, followed by the subsequent session in New Delhi in June 2024.

In an interview with ANI, Gabbard discussed the vision and objectives outlined by Prime Minister Modi and President Trump following their joint statement post the February 2025 meeting at the White House. Both leaders committed to enhancing trade and investments aimed at boosting prosperity for their citizens, strengthening their countries, fostering innovation within their economies, and fortifying supply chains against vulnerabilities.

They decided to strengthen the U.S.-India trade connection to foster development that guarantees equity, security, and employment opportunities. With this aim, they established an ambitious target for their two-way commerce known as “Mission 500,” with the objective of increasing overall trade volume to over $500 billion annually by the year 2030.

The U.S. intelligence leader mentioned during his visit that numerous areas of cooperation are available for both nations to work on together.

“There are numerous distinct components, naturally, involving both the private sector and various governmental bodies concerning trade activities. We aim to identify potential openings for growth, pinpoint possible obstacles hindering accessibility, and determine ways we can collaboratively enhance our shared economic goals through collective progress,” stated Gabbard.

The U.S. Director of National Intelligence stated that India and the United States held a direct discussion at the highest level concerning the matter of tariffs.

Following his inauguration for a second term, President Trump has reaffirmed his position on reciprocal tariffs, stressing that the United States will mirror duties levied by other nations such as India to guarantee equitable trade practices. On multiple instances, the U.S. administration has pointed out that India maintains among the highest tariffs globally, suggesting that adjustments must be considered.

The iCET represents a distinctive structure aimed at enhancing technological and economic collaboration between the United States and India. This initiative is overseen by the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) in India and the National Security Council (NSC) in the U.S., with backing from the Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the U.S. State Department.

In an interview with ANI in New Delhi, Tulsi Gabbard stated that there was potential to enhance the economic ties between India and the United States.

“Based on my conversations with Indian government officials over the past several days, there seems to be an opening for exploration. The prospects for enhancing our economic ties appear stronger, which pleases me as they seem inclined toward viewing this positively rather than solely through the lens of tariffs, which can often carry a negative connotation. Clearly, Prime Minister Modi is prioritizing actions beneficial to India’s economy and the myriad opportunities these present for Indians. Likewise, President Trump is acting similarly regarding U.S. economic interests and those of Americans,” she noted.

The U.S. Director of National Intelligence stated that both President Trump and Prime Minister Modi are seeking a “positive outcome.”

“I view it positively that we now have two leaders with practical wisdom seeking beneficial outcomes. Direct discussions are taking place not only at the highest levels within both nations but also among various secretaries and cabinet members. These dialogues will be crucial in outlining the way forward. Personally, I’m enthusiastic since there’s significant interest from the business community in both India and the U.S.,” she stated.

Tulsi Gabbard stated that the two leaders have a strong bond of friendship, which serves as the cornerstone for building their nations’ collaboration.

“The rapport and the dynamic between our new leadership team under President Trump and Prime Minister Modi were established during Mr. Modi’s trip to the White House. You understand, they have developed into close acquaintances. This provided an excellent chance for both of them to articulate their shared perspective on the U.S.-India alliance and the potential we have to further solidify this collaboration,” she stated.

“The discussions I’ve held here with various Indian government and intelligence officers have firmly established the groundwork for enhancing integration and strengthening our relationship. This applies not just to my field of expertise—intelligence—but also extends to areas such as commerce, trade, defense, and education. The potential opportunities within the U.S.-India partnership appear limitless from where I stand,” she noted.

Tulsi Gabbard additionally addressed various topics, drawing inspiration from the lessons of the Mahabharata, notably Krishna’s guidance to Arjuna.

While visiting India, she will also take part in the Raisina Dialogue 2025.

She is presently embarked on a tour of multiple nations across the Indo-Pacific region, which includes stops in Japan, Thailand, and India. (ANI)