New Delhi |
U.S. Vice President JD Vance began a four-day visit to India on Monday, kicking off a high-stakes diplomatic trip at a time when India is racing to avoid steep tariff hikes from the U.S. His visit includes talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is expected to set the stage for a broader India-U.S. trade deal.
Family, Taj Mahal, and Trade Talks
While Vance’s trip has personal highlights — including a family visit to the Taj Mahal and a wedding in Jaipur — the political backdrop remains heavy. His wife, Usha Vance, is of Indian origin, and this is being seen as a bridge-building moment between the two nations.
Fresh from a meeting with Pope Francis in Rome, Vance arrived in Delhi on Monday and was welcomed at Palam airport.
What’s on the Table: Trade & Tariffs
Vance and Modi will review the progress of the bilateral trade and defence agenda first laid out in February during Modi’s visit to Washington. At the heart of the conversation: India’s attempt to strike a deal before a 90-day deadline on U.S. tariff hikes expires.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized India’s trade policies, calling the country a “tariff abuser” and “tariff king,” despite bilateral trade between the two nations touching $129 billion in 2024 — with a $45.7 billion surplus in India’s favour.
According to sources, India is open to lowering import tariffs on over half of U.S. goods, which were valued at $41.8 billion last year. Officials are hopeful that this visit will help seal an early-stage deal.
No Deals Yet — But Defence Dialogue to Continue
Though no formal agreements are expected during Vance’s visit, both sides are working toward a broader framework for defence cooperation this year. India plans to purchase and co-produce key U.S. military equipment, including Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stryker armoured vehicles.
Further talks on these deals are likely when U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth visits India in the coming months.
Strategic Timing
The timing of Vance’s visit is no coincidence. With U.S.-China tensions escalating, New Delhi is seen as a key strategic partner. Harsh Pant, foreign policy expert at Delhi’s Observer Research Foundation, said, “Vance’s growing role in diplomacy adds weight to this visit, especially in the context of ramped-up global competition.”
This trip also lays the groundwork for a potential visit by President Trump later this year, during the Quad leaders’ summit — a strategic group of India, the U.S., Japan, and Australia.
As the clock ticks on trade negotiations, all eyes are on how this visit strengthens ties — or tests them.
