United States Vice President JD Vance has embarked on his first official visit to India, marking a significant diplomatic engagement aimed at strengthening the India-US Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership. Vance departed from Rome Ciampino Airport on Sunday evening and is scheduled to arrive in New Delhi on the morning of Monday, April 21.
According to the White House Press Pool, Vance, who had been in Italy with his family, boarded Air Force Two along with his wife, Usha Vance, and their children. A heartwarming moment before departure saw Vance gently lifting his sleeping daughter, Mirabel, while his sons, Ewan and Vivek, boarded the aircraft waving toy swords.
The Vice President’s aircraft is expected to land at Air Force Station Palam at approximately 9:30 AM IST, where he will be formally received at 10:00 AM. His key engagement for the day is a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 6:30 PM at the Prime Minister’s official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.
Following his engagements in the capital, Vice President Vance will travel to Jaipur on Tuesday, April 22, and then to Agra on Wednesday, April 23. He is set to depart India on the morning of Thursday, April 24.
In anticipation of his arrival, welcome hoardings have been placed at prominent locations around Palam Airport and the diplomatic enclave of Chanakyapuri in Delhi.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized the importance of the visit, with MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stating that discussions between Vance and Indian leadership would cover a broad spectrum of key bilateral and global issues.
“This is an official visit. He will be meeting the Prime Minister. And with the United States of America, we have a Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership. So, when you have that level of partnership with any country, obviously you will discuss all relevant issues,” Jaiswal noted in a recent press briefing.
He added that India is optimistic about the visit further deepening bilateral relations. “We are very positive that the visit will give a further boost to our bilateral ties,” he said.
The visit underscores ongoing efforts by both nations to enhance cooperation across sectors including defense, trade, technology, and climate change.
