US VP JD Vance Begins Official Visit to India Amid Tariff Tensions

U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in India for a four-day official visit, accompanied by his family, at a time of heightened global trade tensions due to U.S. tariff policies. Vance is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss advancing a bilateral trade agreement and expanding defense and strategic cooperation. The talks come as India seeks to avoid steep tariffs threatened by the Trump administration by considering tariff reductions on U.S. imports. The visit also includes discussions on India's role in a U.S.-backed trade corridor initiative designed to counter China's Belt and Road, and reflects broader geopolitical considerations given India's balancing act between the U.S. and Russia. Vance's itinerary includes personal engagements in Agra and Jaipur, underscoring the visit's diplomatic and personal significance. Indian officials expressed optimism that the visit will further strengthen the growing strategic partnership between the two nations.