The Vance family landed in Delhi around 9:50 am at the Palam air base, where they were welcomed with traditional Indian dance performances. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw received the dignitaries, while the Vance children stepped off Air Force Two dressed in traditional Indian attire—kurta-pyjamas for the boys and a teal green anarkali suit for Mirabel.
A ceremonial guard of honour was accorded to the US Vice President at the airbase, underscoring the importance of the visit.Later in the day, Vice President Vance held wide-ranging talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, followed by a private dinner hosted by the Prime Minister in honour of the visiting dignitaries. Both leaders reviewed the progress made in bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction at the growing strategic convergence between the two democracies.
In their discussions, Prime Minister Modi recalled his recent visits to Washington D.C. in January and to Paris in February, where he met with President Donald Trump and Vice President Vance respectively. He noted that these meetings helped lay the foundation for a new phase of cooperation, blending India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision with America’s Make America Great Again (MAGA) agenda.
The leaders welcomed substantial progress in negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, aimed at addressing issues like tariffs and market access. They also emphasised the importance of expanding cooperation in energy, defence, and strategic technologies.Beyond trade and technology, the leaders exchanged views on pressing regional and global issues, underlining the need for diplomacy and dialogue as tools for peace and progress.
The Prime Minister extended his warm wishes to the Second Lady and the Vance children for a memorable stay in India and conveyed his greetings to President Trump, expressing anticipation for his visit to India later this year.
As part of their itinerary, the Vance family visited the Akshardham temple and the Central Cottage Industries Emporium (CCIE) in Delhi. They are staying at the ITC Maurya Sheraton during their time in the capital.
From Delhi, the Vice President and his family will travel to Jaipur on Monday night. On April 22, they will explore the city’s rich heritage, including a tour of the UNESCO World Heritage site, Amer Fort. Vice President Vance is also scheduled to speak at the Rajasthan International Center, addressing key stakeholders from government, academia, and the diplomatic community on the evolving contours of India-US relations under the Trump administration.
On April 23, the delegation will visit Agra, where they will tour the Taj Mahal and Shilpgram, an open-air handicrafts emporium. The family is expected to return to Jaipur the same evening before concluding their visit and departing for the US on April 24.
The Vice President’s visit comes amid ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries, following President Trump’s recent move to pause a sweeping tariff regime that impacted over 60 countries, including India. Observers see the current visit as a step toward resolving key trade and market access issues and deepening strategic alignment between the world’s two largest democracies.
In a social media post, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal welcomed the Vance family, saying their visit will further solidify the India-US partnership across key sectors.
