US Vice President JD Vance to Visit India Amid Trade Talks, Will Meet PM Modi and Tour Cultural Sites

US Vice President JD Vance will travel to India next week as part of a diplomatic tour that also includes Italy.

The visit, scheduled from April 18 to 24, comes as India and the United States engage in ongoing discussions to finalise a bilateral trade agreement.

A statement from the Vice President’s Office confirmed that Vance will be joined by his wife Usha and their three children—Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel. “The Vice President will discuss shared economic and geopolitical priorities with leaders in each country,” the statement read.

Meetings with Global Leaders

In Italy, JD Vance will meet Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin. He will then travel to India, where his itinerary includes visits to New Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra.

One of the key highlights of the trip will be a one-on-one meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 21 in Delhi.

The two leaders are expected to discuss matters concerning economic cooperation, trade negotiations, and regional security.

Warm Relations Between PM Modi and the Vance Family

Prime Minister Modi previously met the Vance family in France in February. During that meeting, he presented personalised gifts to JD Vance’s children.

Vivek received a wooden railway toy set, Ewan was gifted a jigsaw puzzle featuring Indian folk art, and Mirabel was given an eco-friendly wooden alphabet set.

JD Vance expressed appreciation for the gesture, calling Prime Minister Modi “gracious and kind,” and added, “the kids really enjoyed the gifts.” He also remarked, “I’m grateful to him for the wonderful conversation.”

Strategic Trade Talks in Focus

Vance’s visit coincides with critical US-India trade discussions. In February, both nations agreed to work toward the first stage of a broader trade deal, aiming for completion by the end of the year. The goal is to boost bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.

However, negotiations continue under the backdrop of the Trump administration’s firm stance on tariffs.

Despite ongoing talks, US President Donald Trump has called India the “tariff king” and “a big abuser,” imposing a 26 percent blanket duty under a now-paused tariff initiative.

Last week, a Reuters report indicated that the two countries have finalised the terms of reference for the first phase of the agreement. An Indian official expressed hope that a “win-win” deal could be reached within 90 days.

India Welcomes Vance’s Visit

India’s Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement welcoming JD Vance’s visit. It said the trip offers a chance to review progress in bilateral relations and the outcomes of the India-US Joint Statement.

“The two sides will also exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest,” the ministry noted.

Vance will be accompanied by his family, including Second Lady Usha Vance, who is making her first trip to India in her official capacity. She is the daughter of Indian immigrants from Andhra Pradesh.

Cultural Stops in Jaipur and Agra

In addition to official meetings, Vance and his family will visit Jaipur and Agra, where they are expected to tour key cultural landmarks, including the Taj Mahal.

This marks JD Vance’s first official trip to India since assuming office as Vice President.

The visit also holds personal significance for Usha Vance. According to a Politico report, this will be her first visit to her ancestral country as Second Lady.

Usha Vance: A Distinguished Career

Usha Vance, née Chilukuri, is the daughter of Krish and Lakshmi Chilukuri, who emigrated from India to the United States in the late 1970s.

Krish Chilukuri teaches Aerospace Engineering at San Diego State University, while Lakshmi Chilukuri is a teaching professor in Molecular Biology and serves as the Provost of Sixth College at the University of California, San Diego.

Usha Vance met JD Vance at Yale Law School. A prominent litigator, she has clerked for US Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts and Judge Brett Kavanaugh when he was at the US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Yale University and a master’s from the University of Cambridge, where she was a Gates Cambridge Scholar.