US Vice President JD Vance received a ceremonial Guard of Honour upon his arrival at Palam Airport in New Delhi on Monday, marking the beginning of his first official visit to India. Accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance and their children, the Vice President was warmly welcomed by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The area around the airport was adorned with hoardings of Vice President Vance ahead of his arrival.
The four-day official visit, running from April 21 to 24, is expected to significantly strengthen bilateral relations between India and the United States, especially in the areas of trade, economic cooperation, and defense.
A formal meeting between Vice President Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled for 6:30 PM today at the Prime Minister’s official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg.
The Vance family will also take time to explore India’s cultural heritage, with planned visits to Jaipur on April 22 and Agra on April 23, where they are expected to tour the Taj Mahal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Highlighting the importance of the visit, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted during a media briefing that “all relevant bilateral issues will be discussed”, including trade agreements and tariff talks. He reaffirmed that India and the US share a Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership, making this high-level visit a significant opportunity to advance mutual goals.
Before arriving in India, Vice President Vance concluded a three-day official visit to Italy, where he met Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and Pope Francis during the Easter weekend.
Vance’s visit will conclude with his departure on the morning of April 24.
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