NEW DELHI: United States President Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ slogan doesn’t mean ‘America alone,’ US director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard said on Tuesday.
Gabbard made the remark during her keynote address on the second day of the 10th edition of Raisina Dialogue, India’s premier multilateral conference, in Delhi.
“President Trump is committed to America first, putting the safety, security and freedom of the American people at the forefront of his policies and his decisions. But this should not be misunderstood to mean that America First is America alone,” Gabbard, her country’s first Hindu intelligence chief, said.
“President Trump is committed to America First. PM (Narendra) Modi is committed to India First. Prime Minister (Christopher) Luxon is committed to New Zealand First.,” she added.
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon is on a five-day India visit. He delivered his keynote speech on the first day of the event.
Meanwhile, Gabbard, who began and concluded her speech with “Jai Shri Krishna,” expressed confidence that the India-US relationship will continue to grow under their respective leaders, PM Modi and President Trump.
“The partnership between our two countries has been strong for decades and under the leadership of two great leaders and two great friends – President Trump and Prime Minister Modi – and rooted in our shared values of peace and freedom, security and prosperity, I am confident that this partnership between our two nations and our leaders will continue to grow and strengthen,” she stated.
Gabbard also thanked PM Modi for inviting her to India during his US visit in February.
“I leave right after the dialogue for Washington DC. But it has been a constructive few days engaging with our Indian counterparts working to build off of the momentum that was created by President Trump and PM Modi’s joint statement in Washington DC. I am grateful to be here because these gatherings are so important because they give us the opportunity to come together and engage in direct dialogue on pressing issues,” she concluded.
The US intelligence chief is the first senior member of the second Trump administration to visit India. She held bilateral talks with India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, participated in a multi-nation intelligence conclave chaired by Doval, and met various Indian leaders, including PM Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh, and others.
