In a significant diplomatic development, US Vice
President JD Vance will travel to India and Italy from April 18
to April 24, the White House has confirmed. The visit aims to strengthen
economic ties, advance trade negotiations, and reaffirm the growing Indo-US
partnership.
🇮🇳 Vance's India
Itinerary: New Delhi, Jaipur, Agra
Vance will be accompanied by his wife Usha Vance, the
first Indian-American second lady of the US, and their children Ewan, Vivek,
and Mirabel. The family is expected to visit:
- New
Delhi – for high-level meetings with Indian leadership
- Jaipur
& Agra – for cultural engagements, including visits to heritage
sites
A key highlight will be Vance’s meeting with Prime
Minister Narendra Modi, where discussions are expected to center around:
- Trade
and tariff negotiations
- Strategic
economic partnerships
- Geopolitical
alignment, especially in the Indo-Pacific region
🇺🇸 India-US Trade
Talks Underway
India is optimistic about finalizing its tariff
agreements with the US within six weeks, as per senior government
officials. This visit by the Vice President may act as a diplomatic catalyst in
sealing pending deals.
🇮🇹 Vance in
Italy: Rome and the Vatican
Before arriving in India, Vance will:
- Meet
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni
- Participate
in ceremonies at the Vatican, meeting Cardinal Pietro Parolin,
the Vatican’s Secretary of State
The meeting with PM Meloni comes shortly after her official
US visit to the White House to meet former President Donald Trump,
focused on EU-US trade relief.
🌐 Strategic Importance of
the Visit
This visit underscores the US's dual focus:
- Strengthening
alliances in Asia and Europe
- Advancing
Trump’s revised trade agenda, which includes temporary lower tariffs
and negotiations with key partners