On Day 2 of the ORF Raisina Conference, a keynote address and conversation with Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence (DNI), USA, was organized. The session was moderated by Sameer Saran, President of ORF India.
DNI Gabbard’s participation in the summit comes amid her state visit to India—her first after President Trump’s return to the White House. During her visit, she met Prime Minister Modi and her counterparts, including NSA Ajit Doval.
In her keynote address, Gabbard stated that she is a “child of the Pacific” and emphasized that the Pacific has now become the epicentre of geopolitics. She highlighted the increasing importance of U.S.-India collaboration in the Asia-Pacific region to ensure transparency, inclusivity, and balance.
Gabbard praised Prime Minister Modi’s “India First” approach, drawing a parallel with President Trump’s “America First” policy. She also spoke about the challenges and restraints President Trump faced, not only from the legacy media but also from opposition forces during his candidacy.
She criticized those who oppose Trump’s peace efforts in Ukraine, labelling them as “anti-peace.” According to her, Trump’s stance is not just crucial for Ukraine but also for the United States. She further noted that while European allies support Trump, his push for peace has created hesitancy among them, making them feel somewhat isolated.
Addressing global security concerns, Gabbard referenced the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists’ recent setting of the Doomsday Clock to 89 seconds to midnight, indicating a heightened risk of nuclear catastrophe. She stressed the urgency for leaders to stand up for peace, people, and the planet, especially in times when advocating for peace can invite criticism.
Gabbard concluded by stating that India stands at a critical geopolitical juncture, possessing immense potential to emerge as a prosperous and stable global power.
Aayush Pal is a freelance writer on contemporary geopolitical developments. The views expressed in his work are entirely his own.
Dr Nanda Kishor M S & Dr Akhil Kumar 
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