U.S. Vice President JD Vance started his four-day visit to India on Monday. He is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to talk about finalizing a trade deal with the U.S. quickly, as India tries to avoid high tariffs from the Trump administration.
This visit is also meant to boost the growing relationship between the two countries.
Vance’s visit to India is partly official and partly personal. He is traveling with his family, and his trip includes visiting popular tourist spots like the Taj Mahal and attending a wedding in Jaipur.
His wife, Usha Vance, has Indian roots—she is the daughter of Indian immigrants.
He arrived at New Delhi’s Palam airport after making a stop in Rome, where he had a private meeting with Pope Francis on Easter Sunday.
During this trip, Vance and Modi are expected to discuss the progress made since their last meeting in February, when Modi met U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington.
At that time, both sides had agreed to work on “fair” trade terms and strengthen their defense cooperation.
India is especially keen on this visit because the Trump administration has been strict about trade tariffs. Trump has often called India a “tariff king” and accused it of unfair trade practices. However, India is open to reducing import tariffs on several U.S. goods to secure a deal.
In 2024, India imported $41.8 billion worth of goods from the U.S., and it’s ready to make some adjustments to keep the relationship strong.
India’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, said they are hopeful this visit will improve ties between both countries even more.
Trade between India and the U.S. reached $129 billion in 2024. Out of that, India had a $45.7 billion trade surplus. With such a big trade relationship, both sides are under pressure to keep things smooth and avoid any disruption caused by tariffs.
President Trump had announced a 90-day pause on tariff hikes for key partners, including India. This window gives both nations a short time to seal a deal. Indian officials are trying to make the most of this opportunity.
Vance’s visit is also important because it could prepare the stage for Trump’s upcoming trip to India later this year. Trump is expected to attend a summit with the Quad nations—India, the U.S., Australia, and Japan.
According to Harsh Pant, a foreign policy expert at the Observer Research Foundation, the timing of this visit is very important. With tensions rising between the U.S. and China, and Vance playing a big role in diplomacy, this visit carries extra weight.
Vance is not traveling alone.
He is joined by U.S. officials, though sources say there won’t be any official deals signed during this visit. However, the groundwork for future deals is being laid.
One key area both countries are working on is defense. They are planning to sign a framework for a long-term defense partnership this year.
India is also interested in buying and producing U.S. military equipment like Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stryker armored vehicles.
Talks on these military purchases are expected to continue during the upcoming visit of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the next few months.
In short, this visit is not just a diplomatic trip—it’s a chance for both nations to sort out trade issues, plan future defense cooperation, and build stronger ties during a very critical time in global politics.