United States Vice President JD Vance is set to land in New Delhi today for a four-day visit aimed at boosting economic and strategic cooperation between India and the United States, at a time when both countries are navigating a complex global tariff environment.
Vance will be accompanied by his wife Usha, their children and senior officials from the U.S. administration. The couple is also scheduled to visit Jaipur and Agra, where they will participate in cultural engagements.
The high-level visit follows a series of diplomatic exchanges between the two countries and comes weeks after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard's visit to India for a geopolitical conference. It also marks a continuation of dialogue after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Donald Trump in Washington two months ago.
Vance is expected to hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi later today. Officials familiar with the preparations said the meeting would focus on economic cooperation, trade policy and regional geopolitics.
The visit is being viewed as a key diplomatic initiative by the Trump administration, especially in light of a deepening trade dispute with China and renewed global attention on tariff regimes.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, “The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to review the progress in bilateral relations and the implementation of the outcomes of the India-U.S. Joint Statement issued on 13 February 2025 during the visit of the Prime Minister to the US. The two sides will also exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.”
As per an Associated Press report, an India-U.S. trade pact could significantly boost economic engagement and potentially deepen diplomatic alignment between the two democracies. The United States is currently India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade valued at approximately $190 billion.
Trump had previously introduced a 26 per cent levy on Indian goods as part of his broader tariff agenda. Although the policy has since been paused, the move had rattled Indian exporters. In response, Modi signalled willingness to lower tariffs on certain U.S. products and negotiate broader trade terms to offset protectionist pressures.
During his Washington trip earlier this year, Modi had said he was open to repatriating undocumented Indian nationals from the U.S. and expressed interest in acquiring military equipment as part of a strategic defence partnership.
He had also stated a readiness to “soften impending trade barriers” in an effort to support ongoing negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement.
The visit is also expected to underscore people-to-people ties, with the Vance family’s itinerary including stops at heritage sites and interactions with Indian civil society leaders.
Vance’s trip comes amid growing concern over global supply chain disruptions, with India and the U.S. seeking to build a more resilient and rules-based economic architecture in the Indo-Pacific.
The visit takes place just months before a high-level summit on trade and security expected to be held in New York later this year.
Also read: US VP Vance to cover Delhi, Agra & Jaipur during India visit
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