U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance on a Four-Day Visit to India

U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance on a Four-Day Visit to India
New Delhi, April 20, 2025 —

According to a report by global news outlet AP, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance is arriving in India on Monday for a four-day official visit, during which discussions will focus on deepening the growing economic and strategic partnership between the United States and India through a proposed bilateral trade agreement.

This marks Vice President Vance’s first official visit to India, and it holds personal significance as well — his wife, Usha Vance, is the daughter of South Indian immigrants and a follower of Hinduism.

High-Level Talks with Prime Minister Modi

During the visit, Vance is scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The discussions will cover a range of topics including the economy, trade, strategic ties, and regional geopolitical issues.

The visit comes at a time when the trade war between the United States and China is intensifying, and India has emerged as a key U.S. partner in the Asia-Pacific region.

The U.S. is currently India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade recently reaching approximately $190 billion. The proposed bilateral trade agreement aims to increase this figure to $500 billion by 2030.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs stated, “This visit offers an opportunity to review the progress of bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.”

The U.S. is seeking greater market access for its agricultural and dairy products in India. However, given that India’s agricultural sector employs a large portion of the population, New Delhi remains cautious on this front.

Expanding Defense and Energy Cooperation

Beyond the trade agreement, the Trump administration is also pushing for expanded Indian purchases of U.S. oil, energy products, and defense equipment — including the fifth-generation stealth fighter jet.

Usha Vance and the couple’s children are accompanying the Vice President on the trip. The family will visit Jaipur and Agra and take part in cultural programs at India’s heritage sites.

In his memoir Hillbilly Elegy, Vance wrote about his wife, saying, “She’s incredibly intelligent, the daughter of Indian immigrants, and I fell in love with her while studying at Yale Law School.” Usha’s family immigrated to the United States in the late 1970s.

Modi shares a positive history with former President Donald Trump, and that personal rapport has continued into the current term. After Trump’s re-election as President, Modi held his first bilateral meeting with him, during which they announced a “Mega Partnership” and began talks on a long-term trade deal.

India’s Strategic Role

India is now a key strategic ally of the U.S., not only in bilateral trade but also in efforts to counter China’s growing influence. India is a member of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) — alongside the U.S., Japan, and Australia — which works to counter China’s regional expansion.

In addition, major American companies like Apple, Google, and Starlink have expanded their operations in India, with further investments likely in the future.