US Vice President JD Vance, wife Usha to visit India next week
US Vice President JD Vance and his Indian-origin wife Usha Vance will travel to India and Italy this week, the White House announced on Wednesday. The Ministry of External Affairs said that Vance will pay an official visit to India from April 21-24.
The MEA added, “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-US joint statement issued on February 13.” The joint statement, with a heavy reliance on trade ties, was issued after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Donald Trump in the US.
A press statement of the White House said, “The Vice President will hold meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.”
In India, Vance will visit New Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, the White House said. The Vice President and his family will also participate in engagements at cultural sites, the statement added.
Other than the meeting with Modi – that would happen in the backdrop of the ongoing India-US trade agreement talks – the visit will be largely private.
JD Vance’s visit to India will be the second high profile visit from the Donald Trump administration after the Direction National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard came here in March. She had met with Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Prime Minister Modi.
Around the time Vance is here, the US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is also expected to visit. During his trip, Waltz will meet with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval and speak at the Indo-US forum hosted by the Delhi-based Ananta Centre.
The NSAs of both the countries jointly chair the India-US initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET).
Later this summer, US Defence Secretary Peter Hegseth is also set to visit India, ahead of a planned trip by President Donald Trump to attend the Quad Summit. This also marks the first high-level engagement between the two nations since Trump announced and later paused his whopping reciprocal tariffs on global trading partners.
India is now seeking to finalise a trade deal with the US India’s Trade Secretary Sunil Barthwal said, “There will be more opportunities than concerns if the bilateral trade agreement is signed between the two countries.”
Trade negotiators are expected to start a virtual meeting this week on sector specific tariffs.
Vance’s week-long trip will start in Rome, Italy, where he will meet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He will also meet Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
