US Vice President JD Vance will visit India from 21 to 24 April, marking his first official trip to the country since taking office. He will be joined by his wife Usha Vance and their three children — Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel — as part of a broader diplomatic tour that also includes a stop in Italy.
The visit underscores growing US interest in consolidating its relationship with India amid shifting global alliances and economic realignments. A statement from his office confirmed meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said the discussions will focus on shared economic and geopolitical priorities.
Strategic talks and cultural stops
Vance will land in Delhi for high-level meetings and will also travel to Jaipur and Agra for private and cultural engagements. The inclusion of family and visits to heritage sites such as the Taj Mahal send a soft but powerful message — the personal dimension of diplomacy matters.
His wife, Usha Vance, is of Indian origin, a fact that’s not gone unnoticed in political and public circles. Her presence is expected to generate warm local interest, especially in Jaipur, where the family will participate in cultural activities.
“This visit sends a strong signal to domestic and international stakeholders about the importance both countries place on a robust, future-oriented trade relationship,” said Dr Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), in an earlier ET report.
Trade winds Sshifting in India’s favour
According to Dr Aghi, one of the key outcomes of this visit could be progress on the long-discussed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). Talks are expected to zero in on specific sectors rather than sweeping reforms.
“I believe both countries need to address tariff challenges by adopting a pragmatic, sector-specific approach. Instead of aiming for broad, sweeping agreements that could risk a stalemate, both nations can focus on individual sectors—such as digital trade, pharmaceuticals, agricultural goods, and defence technology—where mutual interests align,” Dr Aghi said in an earlier ET report.
He added that “sectoral working groups can be tasked with identifying non-tariff barriers, facilitating regulatory alignment, and phasing out tariffs in a calibrated manner.”
Even as tariffs remain a sticking point, India holds a strategic edge in several areas. Services, pharmaceuticals, and energy exports already benefit from zero tariffs. With US-China trade tensions mounting, India could use this moment to bolster its role in global supply chains — particularly in electronics, apparel, and high-tech manufacturing.
Eyes on the Quad and global trade
The visit also comes amid talk of scheduling the next Quad Leaders’ Summit, which India is set to host. The summit, bringing together leaders from the US, India, Japan, and Australia, is part of a broader Indo-Pacific strategy focused on regional security and economic resilience.
Vance is expected to meet not only the Prime Minister but also India’s External Affairs Minister and National Security Adviser. These meetings will likely cover regional security, digital cooperation, and regulatory frameworks that can support smoother bilateral trade.
“Despite near-term tariff challenges, the $500 billion bilateral trade target by 2030 remains within reach,” said Dr Aghi. “The focus needs to be where tariffs can be reduced on agricultural goods, dairy, and ICT products.”
On the digital front, pending issues like data localisation and cross-border data flows are also on the table. Market access for sectors like e-commerce, insurance, and defence manufacturing remain high priorities, according to USISPF.
A Global Backdrop and Personal Undertones
This India visit follows a series of international engagements for the Vice President. In February, Vance travelled to Paris and Munich, where he criticised European allies for restrictions on free speech and lack of defence cost-sharing. In March, he visited Greenland with his wife and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz in the wake of the Signal group chat mishap involving unauthorised military discussions.
Vance is also expected to meet Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to attend Easter ceremonies, before his trip to India. A devout Catholic, Vance converted six years ago. He is only the second Catholic to be elected Vice President after Joe Biden.
However, a spokesperson clarified that Vance will not participate in nuclear negotiations with Iranian officials currently underway in Rome. The Trump administration’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is leading those discussions.
Friendshoring and future trade
As the US and China deepen their tariff war, both public and private sector actors are moving towards a “China Plus One” strategy — diversifying operations to reduce dependency on China. India, with its growing digital infrastructure and manufacturing potential, is well-placed to capitalise.
“Retaliatory tariffs will upend supply chains that we are trying to rebuild since the pandemic, raise consumer prices thus creating an inflationary environment, and create the market volatility that we are seeing,” Dr Aghi warned.
But there’s cautious optimism that JD Vance’s visit could nudge the two countries closer to tangible outcomes on trade, defence collaboration, and digital governance. The optics — a Vice President with an Indian-origin spouse visiting the country alongside their children — matter just as much as the agreements inked behind closed doors.
As Dr Aghi put it, “India remains a strong and viable location and partner, as part of efforts to build on global value chains in an era of friendshoring.”
The visit underscores growing US interest in consolidating its relationship with India amid shifting global alliances and economic realignments. A statement from his office confirmed meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said the discussions will focus on shared economic and geopolitical priorities.
🚨NEW:@VP JD Vance and @SLOTUS will visit Italy and India this week. pic.twitter.com/UYqTfNlvGt
— Taylor Van Kirk (@VPPressSec) April 16, 2025
Strategic talks and cultural stops
Vance will land in Delhi for high-level meetings and will also travel to Jaipur and Agra for private and cultural engagements. The inclusion of family and visits to heritage sites such as the Taj Mahal send a soft but powerful message — the personal dimension of diplomacy matters.
His wife, Usha Vance, is of Indian origin, a fact that’s not gone unnoticed in political and public circles. Her presence is expected to generate warm local interest, especially in Jaipur, where the family will participate in cultural activities.
“This visit sends a strong signal to domestic and international stakeholders about the importance both countries place on a robust, future-oriented trade relationship,” said Dr Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF), in an earlier ET report.
Trade winds Sshifting in India’s favour
According to Dr Aghi, one of the key outcomes of this visit could be progress on the long-discussed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). Talks are expected to zero in on specific sectors rather than sweeping reforms.
“I believe both countries need to address tariff challenges by adopting a pragmatic, sector-specific approach. Instead of aiming for broad, sweeping agreements that could risk a stalemate, both nations can focus on individual sectors—such as digital trade, pharmaceuticals, agricultural goods, and defence technology—where mutual interests align,” Dr Aghi said in an earlier ET report.
He added that “sectoral working groups can be tasked with identifying non-tariff barriers, facilitating regulatory alignment, and phasing out tariffs in a calibrated manner.”
Even as tariffs remain a sticking point, India holds a strategic edge in several areas. Services, pharmaceuticals, and energy exports already benefit from zero tariffs. With US-China trade tensions mounting, India could use this moment to bolster its role in global supply chains — particularly in electronics, apparel, and high-tech manufacturing.
Eyes on the Quad and global trade
The visit also comes amid talk of scheduling the next Quad Leaders’ Summit, which India is set to host. The summit, bringing together leaders from the US, India, Japan, and Australia, is part of a broader Indo-Pacific strategy focused on regional security and economic resilience.
Vance is expected to meet not only the Prime Minister but also India’s External Affairs Minister and National Security Adviser. These meetings will likely cover regional security, digital cooperation, and regulatory frameworks that can support smoother bilateral trade.
“Despite near-term tariff challenges, the $500 billion bilateral trade target by 2030 remains within reach,” said Dr Aghi. “The focus needs to be where tariffs can be reduced on agricultural goods, dairy, and ICT products.”
On the digital front, pending issues like data localisation and cross-border data flows are also on the table. Market access for sectors like e-commerce, insurance, and defence manufacturing remain high priorities, according to USISPF.
A Global Backdrop and Personal Undertones
This India visit follows a series of international engagements for the Vice President. In February, Vance travelled to Paris and Munich, where he criticised European allies for restrictions on free speech and lack of defence cost-sharing. In March, he visited Greenland with his wife and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz in the wake of the Signal group chat mishap involving unauthorised military discussions.
Vance is also expected to meet Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin to attend Easter ceremonies, before his trip to India. A devout Catholic, Vance converted six years ago. He is only the second Catholic to be elected Vice President after Joe Biden.
However, a spokesperson clarified that Vance will not participate in nuclear negotiations with Iranian officials currently underway in Rome. The Trump administration’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, is leading those discussions.
Friendshoring and future trade
As the US and China deepen their tariff war, both public and private sector actors are moving towards a “China Plus One” strategy — diversifying operations to reduce dependency on China. India, with its growing digital infrastructure and manufacturing potential, is well-placed to capitalise.
“Retaliatory tariffs will upend supply chains that we are trying to rebuild since the pandemic, raise consumer prices thus creating an inflationary environment, and create the market volatility that we are seeing,” Dr Aghi warned.
But there’s cautious optimism that JD Vance’s visit could nudge the two countries closer to tangible outcomes on trade, defence collaboration, and digital governance. The optics — a Vice President with an Indian-origin spouse visiting the country alongside their children — matter just as much as the agreements inked behind closed doors.
As Dr Aghi put it, “India remains a strong and viable location and partner, as part of efforts to build on global value chains in an era of friendshoring.”
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