Rome [Italy]: United States President JD Vance has departed from Rome Ciampino Airport for his first official visit to India, scheduled from April 21 to April 24.
According to the White House Press Pool, Vance, who was on a family visit to Italy, boarded Air Force Two (AF2) on Sunday evening. The aircraft is expected to arrive at Air Force Station, Palam in New Delhi at approximately 9:30 AM IST on Monday. A formal reception is scheduled for 10:00 AM.
President Vance will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 6:30 PM on Monday at the Prime Minister’s official residence, 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.
In a personal and tender moment before departure, President Vance was seen lifting his sleeping daughter Mirabel from their car, while his sons Ewan and Vivek cheerfully waved toy swords as they boarded the aircraft with Second Lady Usha Vance.
Following his engagements in Delhi, Vance is scheduled to travel to Jaipur on Tuesday. On April 23, he will visit Agra, before concluding his official trip and departing from India on April 24 at 6:40 AM.
Ahead of his arrival, hoardings welcoming President Vance have been placed near Palam Airport and in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi’s diplomatic enclave.
Speaking ahead of the visit, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasized the importance of the bilateral relationship between India and the US:
“This is an Official Visit. He will be meeting the Prime Minister. And with the United States of America, we have a Comprehensive Strategic Global Partnership. So, when you have that level of partnership with any country, obviously you will discuss all relevant issues,” said Jaiswal during a media briefing last Thursday.
He further expressed optimism about the visit’s impact:
“And with America, with the United States, of course, our relationship is such that we are doing anything that is part of human endeavour… forms part of our bilateral engagement. So, all these issues, bilateral issues will be discussed. And we are very positive that the visit will give a further boost to our bilateral ties,” he added.
President Vance’s visit is seen as a continuation of the strategic deepening between India and the United States, which spans cooperation in areas ranging from technology, defense, energy, to people-to-people ties.