US Vice President JD Vance arrives in India for his first official visit
New Delhi: On Monday, US Vice President JD Vance made his first formal trip to India, landing at Palam airport. Senior US Administration officials are joining him, along with his wife, Usha Vance, who is of Indian descent, and their kids.
In anticipation of Vice President Vance’s visit today, hoardings of him were also erected close to Palam airport. From April 21 to 24, Vice President Vance will be in India for a four-day official visit.
Today, Vice President Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi are expected to meet in New Delhi. Prime Minister Modi and Vice President Vance will have a ceremonial meeting at his official home, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, at 6:30 p.m. The two countries’ defense, commerce, and economic cooperation may be the main topics of their talks.
The Vance family will go to Agra and Jaipur after formal meetings. On Tuesday, Vice President Vance will visit Jaipur. He will go to Agra on April 23.
The Taj Mahal, a prominent UNESCO World Heritage site, is getting ready for Vice President Vance’s impending visit. Vice President Vance and his spouse will now go inside the mausoleum and take in its timeless splendor at the monument, which has hosted several world leaders throughout the years. In 2020, US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump paid a visit to the Taj Mahal.
Meanwhile, the little town of Vadluru in Andhra Pradesh’s West Godavari region is a hive of activity as JD Vance and his family prepare to go to India. Residents of Vadluru, the ancestral home of Vice President Vance’s wife, Usha Vance (née Chilukuri), are hoping the pair will pay them a visit when they are in the nation. The villagers, who are quite proud of Usha’s accomplishments, are feeling very excited and emotional as a result of the visit.
On Thursday, April 24, at 6:40 am, Vance will leave India, bringing his trip to an end.
According to Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the visit is also important because US Vice President JD Vance’s upcoming visit from April 21 to 24 will cover all pertinent issues between India and the US and is anticipated to further strengthen bilateral ties.
“We have a comprehensive strategic global partnership. when you have that level of partnership with any country… obviously you will discuss all relevant issues…” Jaiswal said, when asked during last Thursday’s weekly media conference whether tariff talks were possible.
He said, “Of course our relationship is such that we are doing anything that is part of our human endeavor from part of our bilateral engagement … so all these bilateral issues will be discussed and we are very positive that the visit will give a further boost to our bilateral ties.”
Jaiswal further emphasized that India and the US are currently negotiating a possible trade deal. “We are talking to the US side so that a bilateral trade agreement can be done,” he said.
JD Vance and his family had just returned from a three-day trip to Italy, where he attended Easter weekend religious services and had bilateral discussions.
Vance met with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in more extensive bilateral sessions after arriving in Italy on Friday. He met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin and other Church leaders on Saturday.
Following a meeting with Pope Francis, the vice president wrapped up his tour on Easter Sunday.