Vance to arrive in India today; to meet PM, discuss trade ties

US Vice President JD Vance is set to arrive in New Delhi with his family on Monday for a three-day visit that will include a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with ongoing trade negotiations expected to figure in the talks.

- Rezaul H Laskar

NEW DELHI:

Much of the focus of the trip to India, however, will be on cultural engagements and visits to tourist sites in Jaipur and Agra that are aimed at introducing Vance's three children — sons Ewan and Vivek and daughter Mirabel — to the country where their mother Usha traces her roots.

As of now, the only substantial official engagement in Vance's schedule is a meeting with Modi and a dinner to be hosted by the Prime Minister at his official residence on Monday evening, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. Several cabinet ministers, including external affairs minister S Jaishankar, and top BJP leaders are expected to attend the dinner, they said.

A change in the timing of Vance's arrival in New Delhi — he is now expected to fly into the capital several hours later than scheduled — has meant that meetings with several leaders are no longer part of the itinerary. Modi too has a busy schedule this week as he will travel to Saudi Arabia during April 22-23.