United States Vice President JD Vance received a ceremonial Guard of Honour at Palam Airport on Sunday, 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 upon his arrival.
To commemorate the occasion, hoardings featuring Vice President Vance were installed around the vicinity of Palam Airport. His four-day visit, spanning from April 21 to 24, is expected to significantly boost bilateral ties between the two nations.
Later today, Vice President Vance will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Prime Minister’s official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. The formal meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m., will center on strengthening cooperation in key areas such as economy, trade, and defense.
Following his engagements in New Delhi, Vice President Vance and his family will travel to Jaipur on Tuesday, April 22. The itinerary also includes a visit to Agra on April 23, where they are expected to tour the historic Taj Mahal. The Vice President’s visit will conclude with his departure from India at 6:40 a.m. on April 24.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized the strategic importance of the trip. “All relevant issues between India and the United States will be discussed during the upcoming visit of US Vice President JD Vance. We are very positive that the visit will give a further boost to our bilateral ties,” Jaiswal said during a weekly media briefing.
He also hinted at the possibility of progress on trade negotiations. “We are talking to the US side so that a bilateral trade agreement can be done. When you have a comprehensive strategic global partnership, obviously, you will discuss all relevant issues,” he noted.
The Vice President’s trip to India follows his three-day visit to Italy, where he held bilateral talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and met with top Vatican officials, including Cardinal Pietro Parolin. Vance concluded his Italian visit on Easter Sunday after an audience with Pope Francis.
(With ANI inputs)
