The visit includes a speech with Prime Minister Modi as New Delhi is trying to keep sweeping out 26% Trump tariffs.
New Delhi has arrived in India for a four-day visit to avoid US tariffs, negotiate a bilateral trade agreement with Washington and strengthen its relationship with President Donald Trump’s management.
Vance had met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, the first day of his mostly personal visit. He was greeted as embraced by Indian leaders at his residence in New Delhi, a photo released by the Indian government showed.
During the visit, the two leaders were set up to discuss the strengthened bilateral relationship plan outlined in February when Modi met Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C.
“The visit comes in close proximity right after a positive and successful meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi in Washington earlier this year,” Vance’s office said in a statement.
The United States is India’s largest trading partner, and the two countries are holding negotiations this year with the aim of sealing off the new trade agreement. The talks had begun earlier this month before Trump announced sweeping fees for all trading partners, including India’s 26% tax.
Trump later suspended country-specific tariffs for 90 days. His administration framed the move as part of an epic negotiation tactic aimed at taking advantage of better deals with partners like India.
With current transactions under discussion, India and the US have vowed to set an ambitious target of doubling trade to $500 million by 2030, consolidating the supply chains of both countries and boosting employment.
Since becoming vice president in January, Vance’s visit to New Delhi has coincided with the rapidly and fierce trade war between New Delhi’s major rivals, Washington and Beijing.
Modi and Vance are expected to “consider the progress of bilateral relations” and “exchange opinions on regional and global developments of mutual interests,” India’s Foreign Ministry said.
On Monday, Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal said Vance’s visit “will further deepen the comprehensive global strategic partnership between India and the US.”
Countering China
Washington has long viewed India as a key strategic ally in combating China’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region, and has been trying to strengthen relations in recent years.
India is part of a quadrilateral security dialogue with the US, Japan and Australia, and is seen as a countervailing China. Trump is scheduled to attend the top of India’s Quad leadership later this year.
Modi personally wanted to establish a strong partnership with Trump during his first term as US president from 2017 to 2021.
The Indian leader was one of the first leaders to visit the US and discuss with Trump after returning to the White House for his second term on January 20th.
During the visit, Modi welcomed a “megapartnership” with the United States.
The two leaders have announced plans to expand their defence partnership with India and are willing to comply with some of the Trump administration’s demands, including the purchase of US oil, energy and defense equipment.
Modi has also helped Trump’s campaign to deport people living in the US without documents. India has accepted many of its citizens who have been expelled from the US in the past few months. The prime minister’s office has robbed criticism of how some deportees are being treated.
Despite the increased adjustments, Trump continues to call India “tariff abuser” and “customer king.”