Vance Visits India: Focus on Trade, Defense, and Technology Cooperation

US Vice President JD Vance was greeted t in New Delhi with an honor guard and traditional dancers, starting a four-day visit to help advance US-India relations. The trip comes on the heels of some prickly trade negotiations after President Donald Trump's recent 26% tariffs imposed on Indian goods. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who welcomed Vance to his home with a broad smile, spoke to reporters afterward and touted “significant progress” in negotiations for a preliminary trade agreement. India will be seeking relief from the tariffs during a 90-day standoff last week by President Trump.

The leaders agreed to cooperate in aspects of defense, energy and technology, although specific details of that cooperation weren’t released on Wednesday. But India is at a precarious time in the aggravating tariffs war between the US and China. Tariffs on some goods are now higher than 140%. India has tediously avoided the temptation to pick a side. The Commerce Department reported that India is "examining implications and opportunities". Both countries are established partners, and along with Australia and Japan, in the Quad alliance and share concerns about China’s presence in their region.

Vance's family also made the trip personal; his wife Usha (the daughter of immigrants from India) donned traditional Indian clothing and visited Akshardham Temple in Delhi to engage in cultural activity along with diplomatic activity. Modi reiterated expectations for a “mutually beneficial” trade agreement that included hosting a dinner for the vice president's delegation.