Vice President JD Vance, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz are set to visit India in the coming months. This was preceded by US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard’s trip here. The visit would build on the momentum from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s February trip to Washington and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s attendance at Trump’s January inauguration.
Vance is expected in Delhi by mid-April. Waltz is expected to visit around the same time. The India-US Forum organised by Ananta Aspen Centre is scheduled towards the end of April. Hegseth’s trip, slated for May or June, will focus on advancing a new 10-year framework for the US-India Major Defence Partnership announced during Modi’s White House visit in February.
Next week, Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch will be visiting India, just days before Trump’s proposed reciprocal tariffs take effect on April 2. The reciprocal tariffs are scheduled to take effect on April 2. Both sides are holding talks to conclude a Bilateral Trade Agreement.
Gabbard was in India for the annual Raisina Dialogue 2025 and annual intelligence meet. She was the first top Trump official to visit India, when she met with Modi, Jaishankar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and NSA Ajit Doval.
Gabbard was given Holy Ganga Water from Maha Kumbh by PM Modi. Gabbard had announced that the USA will build on the India-US security partnership.
