US Vice President in Delhi: Trade, tech, and regional security on agenda

The North News

New Delhi, April 21

US Vice President, JD Vance, arrived in New Delhi on Monday morning, kicking off a four-day official visit aimed at deepening the strategic partnership between Washington and New Delhi. Accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance, the Indian-American Second Lady, Vance was received at Palam Airport by Indian Railways and Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Vance was accorded a ceremonial tri-services guard of honour upon arrival, signalling the importance New Delhi places on the growing Indo-US relationship.

The Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, welcomed the visiting dignitaries on X, formerly Twitter, writing: “A very warm welcome to @VP JD Vance, @SLOTUS Mrs. Usha Vance, & the U.S. delegation to Received by Minister of Railways and I&B @AshwiniVaishnaw at the airport. The Official Visit (21–24 Apr) spanning Delhi, Jaipur & Agra is expected to further deepen the India–U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.”

Later in the day, Vance is expected to hold a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Discussions are likely to focus on advancing negotiations on the long-pending bilateral trade agreement and enhancing cooperation in defence, technology, and regional security.

India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are also expected to participate in the talks, underlining the strategic weight of the visit.

The Vice President’s itinerary includes cultural engagements in Jaipur and Agra, but the focus remains on fortifying the evolving geopolitical alignment between the world’s two largest democracies.