United States Vice President JD Vance, alongside Second Lady Usha Vance and their children, visited the Taj Mahal on Tuesday, capping a culturally rich itinerary during his four-day official tour to India.
The family was earlier received in Agra by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a gesture that underscored the warmth of growing Indo-US bilateral ties. The visit to the 17th-century Mughal monument, often regarded as a symbol of eternal love, highlighted both diplomacy and personal engagement, reflective of the increasingly multidimensional nature of India–US relations.
The stop in Agra marked the culmination of Vice President Vance’s journey through several Indian cities, where he engaged in cultural, economic, and strategic dialogues. The trip is viewed as a reaffirmation of the Joe Biden administration’s—and more specifically, former President Donald Trump’s—focus on solidifying ties with India.
Earlier in Jaipur, Vance staunchly defended Trump’s contentious trade policies during a public address. “Critics have attacked my president, President Trump, for starting a trade war in an effort to bring back the jobs of the past, but nothing could be further from the truth,” Vance declared. “He seeks to rebalance global trade so that America, with friends like India, can build a future worth having for all of our people together.”
Vance also revealed that India and the United States had finalised the terms of reference for a long-anticipated bilateral trade agreement. Hailing the progress, he said, “When President Trump and Prime Minister Modi announced in February that our countries aim to more than double our bilateral trade... I know that both of them meant it.”
He continued, “Both of our governments are hard at work on a trade agreement built on shared priorities,” citing employment generation, resilient supply chains, and mutual economic development as key objectives.
On the strategic front, the Vice President commended India’s leadership role in the Indo-Pacific and hailed the forthcoming QUAD summit—set to be hosted by India—as “fitting”. Emphasising the strength of military cooperation between the two democracies, he remarked, “The US conducts more military exercises with India than with any other country.”
Besides the Taj Mahal, Vance's India tour included visits to Delhi’s Akshardham Temple, Jaipur’s Amber Fort, and the Central Cottage Industries Emporium, offering a comprehensive overview of India's spiritual and artisanal heritage.
Tuesday’s visit to the Taj Mahal, a world-renowned UNESCO heritage site, symbolised not only familial warmth but also the diplomatic heft of an enduring Indo-US partnership.
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