Vance's visit to India needs to stay free of diplomatic slip-ups

Decorum must be maintained for India-US ties to make progress

- KARISHMA VASWANI

When US Vice-President J.D. Vance touched down in India on Monday, many were wondering what kind of controversy he might stir during his short visit. He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday evening as part of his agenda, as the two nations work toward a bilateral trade deal. Like every other country besides China, India has been spared the full force of US President Donald Trump's tariffs for 90 days. But the clock is ticking: Washington is pressing ahead with its trade war and ramping up efforts to isolate Beijing. If an agreement isn't reached by the end of that timeframe, the US is threatening to increase the 10% tariffs on Indian exports to 26%.

Economic coercion is rarely the best way to make friends. The duties could deal a $33 billion blow to the South Asian nation's export market to the US, translating into an almost 1% loss in GDP. This would aggravate an already slowing economy, just as the Modi government faces scrutiny over job creation, a vulnerability that opposition parties would be happy to highlight.

For Vance, this is an opportunity to soften a global image as Trump's spearhead. It is his first visit to India since taking office. He made his debut on the world stage in France and Germany in February, when he shocked allies by saying that the biggest threat to their security was "from within," rather than from China and Russia.