US Vice-President JD Vance will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on a four-day visit to India next week as their two countries negotiate a bilateral trade deal.
The two leaders are scheduled to meet on 21 April, the first day of Vance’s trip, for discussions on economic, trade and geopolitical ties.
“The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to review the progress in bilateral relations,” India’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
Vance’s first visit to India since taking office comes as the countries work to conclude a trade agreement by fall.
The vice-president will be accompanied by his children and wife Usha Vance whose parents migrated to the US from the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
The visit comes against the backdrop of an intensifying trade war between the US and China with President Donald Trump placing tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese goods, with levies on some goods possibly reaching 245%. China has hit back with tariffs of 125% on US products.
India was also among the countries which faced 27% US tariffs on 2 April, before a 90-day pause was announced.
Since then, Delhi and Washington have been working towards an early conclusion of trade negotiations.
India has already cut tariffs on a range of goods and is reported to be considering more wide-ranging cuts to stave off Trump’s threats.
Until recently, the United States was India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $190bn (£144bn).
Prime Minister Modi visited the US in February soon after Trump’s inauguration and the two leaders met for talks.
During his visit, Modi hailed a “mega partnership” with the United States, as the two leaders announced a deal for India to import more from America, including oil and gas.
Trump and Modi set an ambitious target to more than double bilateral trade to $500bn.
Vance’s visit comes weeks after Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was in India for a geopolitical conference.
Both India and the US hold a significant position in the Quad – a four-nation alliance of India, Australia, US and Japan – seen as a counter-balance to China’s expansion in the Indo-Pacific.
The visit comes as Chinese President Xi Jinpingwraps up a tour of Southeast Asian nations, aiming to position China as a stable and reliable trade partner amid rising tensions with Washington.
India is one of two countries on Vance’s itinerary. Before his arrival in Delhi, he will visit Italy from 18 April. He is scheduled to meet Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Under President Trump’s administration, Vance has taken the lead on international diplomatic engagements.
Trump is yet to undertake a foreign visit since returning to office in January.
By BBC News
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