US vice-president JD Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed progress in talks on a trade agreement between nations after meeting in New Delhi.
Vance, who is currently visiting four days in India with his wife and children, met Modi at his residence in the capital of India on Monday.
The couple discussed the improvement of bilateral cooperation in various fields such as energy, defense and technology, and “welcomed significant progress” in the negotiations of an expected trade agreement between the two countries, Modi's office said in a statement.
The White House said on Monday that Vance and Modi had established “a roadmap for other discussions”.
Speaking Tuesday in the Indian city in the northwest of Jaipur, Vance praised Modi and said that the two countries had finalized the mandate for commercial negotiations.
“I believe that if India and the United States are working together successfully, we will see a 21st century that is prosperous and peaceful,” said Vance, adding that if it did not happen, it would mean a “dark time for all humanity”.
The United States is India's main trading partner, and its bilateral trade was $ 129 billion (113 billion euros) in 2024, with a surplus of 45.7 billion (39.9 billion euros) in favor of India, according to official data from the United States.
Countries aim to increase bilateral trade to $ 500 billion (436 billion euros) by 2030.
New Delhi requests an early trade agreement with Washington in the context of the pricing threats of US President Donald Trump. Earlier this month, Trump announced a 90-day break on his radical pricing regime against almost all countries, including India.
India was to face a 27% “reciprocal” price of the United States before the tasks was suspended, the break ends on July 9. The most populous country in the world – like all other nations – is currently subject to a 10% reference direct debit by Washington.
Greater collaboration
The United States has long sought to develop a deeper partnership with India, which is considered a bulwark against China.
India seeks to market itself as a global manufacturing center at a time when China faces particularly steep raid prices, without any sign of relaxation that occurs soon.
Modi has established a good working relationship with Trump during his first presidency, and he was one of the first leaders to visit the American president after the start of his second term.
During his visit in February, Modi praised a “mega partnership” with the United States and launched a negotiation process to minimize the possible fallout from Trump prices.
While Trump congratulated Modi and called him a “great friend”, he also criticized the high prices of India, the Nation brand a “pricing king” and a “great attacker” of commercial ties.
ADVERTISEMENTCommercial negotiations are particularly urgent for India, especially in agriculture, processed foods, car components, medical equipment and jewelry.
India is also a great defense partner in the United States and, in recent years, it has joined American advanced jets, helicopters, missiles and military equipment in its armed forces.
In his speech to Jaipur on Tuesday, Vance mentioned Trump's push to provide more military equipment to India.
“We, of course, want to collaborate more,” said Vance. “We want to work more together, and we want your nation to buy more from our military equipment.”
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