NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
New Delhi, India, April 21, 2025 – U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in India on Monday, April 21, for a four-day official visit aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between the world’s two largest democracies. This is Vance’s first trip to India as vice president and holds both diplomatic and personal significance.
Accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance, and their three children, Vice President Vance landed in New Delhi early Monday morning. The family began their day with a visit to the iconic Akshardham Temple, where they were greeted with traditional Indian hospitality. From there, they proceeded to their hotel in the capital to rest ahead of an evening meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The meeting, scheduled to take place at 6:30 p.m. IST at the Prime Minister’s official residence, is expected to focus on critical issues including bilateral trade, defense cooperation, and technology collaboration. Trade discussions will be especially crucial, as India has expressed interest in reducing tariffs on more than half of its $41.8 billion worth of U.S. imports from 2024. Both sides are aiming to finalize a trade agreement by fall 2025 to preempt the possibility of renewed U.S. tariffs under policies associated with the Trump administration.
“India is a vital partner to the United States in shaping a free and open Indo-Pacific. This visit reinforces the strength of our relationship and our shared vision for economic and technological growth,” Vance said in a brief statement before departing from Washington.
In addition to official meetings, the Vance family will be traveling to Jaipur on Monday to attend a family wedding and will visit the Taj Mahal in Agra on Tuesday.
Usha Vance, who was born to Indian immigrant parents in California, is visiting her ancestral homeland in an official capacity for the first time.
Residents of Vadluru, a village in Andhra Pradesh believed to be Usha Vance’s ancestral home, have expressed excitement and hope that the Vance family might make an informal stop there. While no such visit has been confirmed, the sentiment reflects the pride felt by many Indian Americans whose roots trace back to rural India.
Vice President Vance is scheduled to depart from India on Wednesday morning, April 24. His visit comes at a time of deepening ties between Washington and New Delhi, especially as both nations navigate complex global challenges and shifting trade dynamics.
The visit is also being closely watched ahead of President Donald Trump’s expected visit to India later this year for the Quad summit, signaling continued bipartisan interest in strengthening U.S.-India relations.
