United States Vice President J.D. Vance arrived in New Delhi on Monday, marking the beginning of an important four-day diplomatic visit to India. Accompanied by his Indian-origin wife Usha Chilukuri Vance and their three children, this visit represents the first time in over ten years that a sitting US Vice President has visited India. The previous one was by Joe Biden back in 2013.
Vance’s trip, which started with a stopover in Italy, began with his arrival at the Air Force Station in Palam, where Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw greeted him. A ceremonial Guard of Honour greeted Vice President Vance upon arrival, underscoring the significance of the visit. The trip comes at a crucial time, as India and the U.S. ramp up efforts to conclude a long-pending bilateral trade agreement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to host formal discussions with Vance, followed by a dinner at his official residence in New Delhi. Key Indian officials, including National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, are expected to be part of the discussions.
Sources suggest that the two sides will explore avenues for technological partnerships, enhanced trade, and regional security cooperation. The trade deal discussions have intensified since the US under former President Trump imposed wide-ranging tariffs. Currently, India benefits from a reduced tariff of 10%, down from an initial 26%, during a temporary 90-day pause affecting several nations—excluding China.
This is Vance’s debut visit to India and marks his second bilateral engagement with Prime Minister Modi, following their earlier interaction at the AI Summit in Paris. That earlier meeting was followed by Modi’s own official visit to Washington.
The Vice President’s entourage includes top officials from the State Department and Pentagon. Their agenda also incorporates cultural experiences, with planned visits to Agra and Jaipur.
Usha Vance, who has roots in Andhra Pradesh, is accompanying the trip with their children—Ewan (7), Vivek (4), and Mirabel (2). However, it remains unclear whether the family will reunite with relatives during their stay in India.
This trip is the second major visit by a top Trump administration official to India this year, following Tulsi Gabbard’s appearance at the Raisina Dialogue in March. Vice President Vance’s visit underscores a deepening US-India partnership in an evolving global landscape.
