By: Monu Kumar
After visiting France and Germany as the Vice President of the USA, JD Vance will embark on his first official visit to India as the Vice-President later this month, accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance.
Vice President JD Vance sparked reactions at the Munich Security Conference with a sharp critique of European governments on illegal migration, religious freedoms, and election integrity - during his first foreign visit; surprising many of the allies anticipating talks on a potential Russia-Ukraine peace deal.
Usha Vance, who became the first Indian-American Hindu Second Lady after her husband JD Vance was sworn in as the 50th Vice President of the United States, will visit, India, her ancestral country for the first time as second lady. Her parents emigrated from India to the United States.
JD Vance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi discussed mutual interests, including US support for India’s energy diversification with clean and “reliable” nuclear technology, earlier in February, during a meeting in Paris. Modi also gave gifts to the Vance children and wished their son, Vivek, a happy birthday, as per the reports. The bilateral meeting was held on the sidelines of the AI Action Summit.
JD Vance’s visit carries diplomatic weight, as well as, personal importance, given Usha Vance’s Indian heritage. The US-India partnership has grown stronger in over the years, especially in trade and defence, as global challenges evolve; both nations are aligning on key issues, from security to technology.