'A Great Leader': US Veep JD Vance Praises PM Modi, Pledges To Bolster India Ties Under Trump

Last Updated:April 21, 2025, 23:13 IST

PM Modi and US Vice President JD Vance held talks at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, where they welcomed "significant progress" in negotiations over a trade pact.

PM Narendra Modi and US Vice President JD Vance in New Delhi. (Narendra Modi/X)

US Vice President JD Vance on Monday said it was an “honour" to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the first day of his visit to the country, calling him a “great leader" and that he was “incredibly kind" to the Vance family.

Replying to PM Modi’s post on X, Vance said he looked forward to working under US President Donald Trump’s leadership to strengthen friendship and cooperation with the people of India.

“It was an honour to see Prime Minister Modi this evening. He’s a great leader and he was incredibly kind to my family. I look forward to working under President Trump’s leadership to strengthen our friendship and cooperation with the people of India!" he said.

Vance and Modi met in delegation-level talks at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, amidst warm scenes where Vance was accompanied by his wife Usha Chilukuri Vance and three children – Vivek, Ewan and Mirabel. Both sides welcomed “significant progress" in the negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), according to a government statement.

“Pleased to welcome US @VP @JDVance and his family in New Delhi. We reviewed the fast-paced progress following my visit to the US and meeting with President Trump. We are committed to mutually beneficial cooperation, including in trade, technology, defence, energy and people-to-people exchanges. India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership will be a defining partnership of the 21st Century for a better future of our people and the world," said PM Modi.

Both countries are in talks for a trade deal, which is aimed to be completed by fall this year as per an agreement made during PM Modi’s trip to the US this February and a meeting with US President Donald Trump. The Vance-Modi meeting raised hopes that a trade deal could be worked out soon, after the US put a 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs for India and other countries.

Both sides also noted the remarkable progress on the India-US COMPACT (Catalysing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) agreement and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen it further, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.

The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of mutual interest, the PMO said. Modi also told Vance that he would like to convey greetings to Trump and looks forward to Trump’s visit to India later this year. They also noted continued efforts towards enhancing cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies and other areas.

Vance’s visit to India comes at a critical juncture, with Washington threatening to raise tariffs on Indian exports from 10% to 26% unless a deal is struck within the 90-day window announced by President Donald Trump earlier this month. A breakthrough on trade could not only boost economic ties but also deepen the broader strategic relationship between the two countries.

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