Study OAS · 18 March 2025

Global Spy Chiefs Converge in Delhi

• On March 16, 2025, top intelligence and security chiefs from over 20 nations gathered in New Delhi for a high-profile conclave hosted by India's National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval.
• The meeting was organized by the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), preceding the Raisina Dialogue (March 17-19, 2025). File photo of U.S. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. | Photo Credit: Reuters

  Agenda of the Conclave:

• Discussions focused on counterterrorism, Indo-Pacific cooperation, transnational crimes, terror financing, and emerging technology threats.
• Intelligence-sharing mechanisms and issues like immigration and extradition were also deliberated.

  Global Participation:

• Attendees included intelligence chiefs from the Five Eyes alliance (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the US) and other nations like Germany and Russia.
• Tulsi Gabbard, the US Director of National Intelligence, participated as part of her Indo-Pacific tour.

  India's Strategic Focus:

• India emphasized concerns about anti-India elements operating abroad and the need for enhanced cooperation in tackling terrorism and money laundering.

  Additional Information:

  Raisina Dialogue:

• Overview:

  • The Raisina Dialogue is India's flagship conference on geopolitics and geo-strategy, organized by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF).
  • Modelled on global platforms like the Munich Security Conference, it brings together policymakers, academics, and industry leaders.

• Significance:

  • It serves as a platform for discussing global challenges, fostering international cooperation, and showcasing India's role in global diplomacy.

    Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW):

• Role:

  • R&AW is India's external intelligence agency, established in 1968.
  • It focuses on gathering foreign intelligence, counterterrorism, and ensuring national security.

• Key Achievements:

  • Played a pivotal role in India's strategic operations, including the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
  • Actively monitors and counters threats from neighbouring regions.