NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — United States Vice President JD Vance is set to arrive in India on April 21 for a four-day visit that will include high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and private stops in Jaipur and Agra. The trip comes as both nations push forward on trade and defense cooperation, underscoring the strategic importance of their growing partnership.
Vance’s visit is expected to coincide with that of U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, who will also be in India from April 21 to 24, according to officials familiar with the planning. The twin visits highlight a renewed focus on bolstering ties across economic, defense, and geopolitical dimensions.
During his stay, Vice President Vance will hold formal talks with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi, where discussions are likely to touch on accelerating the proposed bilateral trade agreement between the two nations. The agreement has gained momentum in recent months, following Modi’s February state visit to Washington, where both sides pledged to deepen economic engagement and explore new avenues for cooperation.
In addition to official meetings, Vance is expected to visit the culturally significant cities of Jaipur and Agra in a private capacity with Second Lady Usha Vance. The visits to these historic cities—known for their architecture, heritage, and tourism appeal—mirror the broader people-to-people ties that have become a hallmark of the U.S.-India relationship.
India’s economic outlook is expected to feature prominently in the conversations. On Wednesday, Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra stated that India is “better placed than some of the other countries,” pointing to the country’s comparative advantage in global markets. However, he also noted that high tariffs remain a “growth dampener,” as merchandise exports face pressure from global uncertainties (source: RBI press conference, April 10).
“While merchandise exports will be weighed down by global uncertainties, services exports are expected to remain resilient,” Malhotra said while unveiling the RBI’s first bi-monthly monetary policy statement for the current fiscal year.
The timing of the U.S. visits is significant. India is navigating global trade disruptions while also positioning itself as a stable economic alternative amid shifting international supply chains. The talks with Vance and Waltz are expected to further explore trade liberalization, digital cooperation, and regulatory harmonization—key areas in the proposed deal.
Looking ahead, defense cooperation will also be on the agenda. U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is expected to visit India in May or June. His trip will focus on advancing the new 10-year roadmap for the U.S.-India Major Defense Partnership, which was unveiled during Modi’s White House visit earlier this year.
According to senior officials, Hegseth’s visit will be instrumental in operationalizing defense technology transfers, joint exercises, and greater logistical cooperation between the two militaries (source: Indian Ministry of Defence, background briefing).
These back-to-back high-level engagements underline the strategic depth and growing trust between the world’s two largest democracies. As both nations seek to navigate an increasingly complex global order, the visits by Vance, Waltz, and Hegseth represent critical steps in reinforcing the U.S.-India partnership across multiple fronts—from trade and economics to defense and diplomacy.
