U.S. Vice President JD Vance’s visit to India this week marks more than just a diplomatic formality — it’s the visible tip of a tectonic shift in U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump’s renewed leadership. With a resurgent “America First” agenda reshaping global alliances, Washington is realigning its Indo-Pacific strategy, with India at a focal point.
In a speech delivered in Jaipur, Vance made a pointed call for stronger U.S.-India cooperation, warning that failure to do so could lead to “a very dark time for all of humanity.” He praised India as a vital democratic partner and signaled that both nations are laying the groundwork for an ambitious trade and strategic partnership.
Vance’s remarks and the symbolism of his family’s visit — including the first Hindu second lady Usha Vance and their children exploring their Indian roots — come against a backdrop of realignment after what many in Washington see as a period of stagnation under President Joe Biden.
Biden’s approach to the region, analysts say, alienated New Delhi. The administration’s overtures to China, tolerance of Pakistan’s military leadership, and muted response to border tensions between China and India created an impression that Washington had abandoned the U.S.-India partnership.
The Trump administration is seeking to repair and revitalize ties, evident in the accelerating pace of trade talks and intelligence cooperation. Vance’s trip follows a string of high-level contacts, including a recent visit by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and a joint U.S.-India pledge to take “decisive action” against threats to national sovereignty and security — a reference to the recent FBI arrest of a Sikh militant linked to terrorist attacks in India.
India, once bracing for a 27% U.S. tariff hike, is now racing to finalize a bilateral deal before Trump’s July deadline. Vance announced that both sides have finalized the “terms of reference” for the agreement, calling it “a vital step toward realizing President Trump and Prime Minister Modi’s vision.”
Beyond economics, the U.S. and India are aligning on broader strategic fronts. Vance reiterated plans to expand U.S. energy and defense exports to India and deepen interoperability between the two countries’ militaries. The relationship, frayed under Biden’s inconsistent policies in South Asia, is now being recalibrated for coherence — especially in countering China’s regional ambitions.
Photographs of their three children dressed in traditional Indian attire — the boys in kurta-pyjamas and their daughter, Mirabel, in a lehenga — were widely circulated in Indian media. During their meeting, Prime Minister Modi gifted the children peacock feathers, a symbolic gesture warmly received by the family.
