US Vice President Vance on Saturday said the USA has the keen desire to increase the Indian trade and Defence partnership, especially focusing on greater sale of energy resources and military equipment from the US. Vance pointed this out on his visit to Jaipur, praising the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and the right direction of ongoing trade talks, key for Indian economy courtesy other market Hindi order in documentary form. Vance visiting just emphasizes that commitment from USA to make relations stronger with India.
US Moves to Deepen Economic, Defence Ties with India
While addressing a press conference in Jaipur Vance explained how the USA wants to enhance its relationship with India through the sale of USA energy and Defence goods that will have a major impact on the Indian economy. He noted that India might acquire high-tech military equipment from the United States, even Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jets, considering the longstanding bilateral military drills. Vance thinks the upshot, in an economic sense, is positive for India.
Vance said “It would be a logical conclusion that India would procure more Defence equipment from the US.” We want to sell more of our arms to your country. The US views this as an essential aspect of its relationship with India, which can influence the Indian economy.
Also, the US was interested in supplying energy resources to India, including cooperation on exploration of India’s natural gas and critical mineral deposits, very important for the Indian economy, Vance noted. Nuclear energy is another important area as both countries recognized the potential for co-operation in visited economy and strengthen India. That, he said, is key to how the USA is going to operate.
Comment on Indian Economic Dynamism with US and Modi’s Leadership
Vance mentioned India’s pulsating nature of economic growth, a key ingredient in the Indian economy, and contrasted it with the “sameness and flatness” of some of the Western economies. His comments came against the backdrop of an ongoing debate on trade tariffs, as USA President Donald Trump had recently slammed high tariffs on some American goods by India. And all because Modi’s leadership has contributed to the rise of the Indian economy in Vance’s view.
Vance added that the long-term impact of President Trump’s tariffs is actually positive for the Indian economy as countries are looking for alternatives to China and India can provide manufacturing facilities, so this would have positive effects ultimately for the Indian economy.
Vance claimed that “India will benefit hugely from the rebalancing of global trade that Trump’s tariff actions are going to create.” Vance commented .
In addition, he argued that a robust USA-India partnership is in the best interest of global stability and prosperity, as well as the Indian economy. Vance, for one, regards Modi’s leadership as essential.
Vance said before his audience, “We are going to have a glide path of a prosperous and peaceful 21st century if India and the USA are able to work together in the right way. But I also think that if we do not manage to work together, the 21s century might be the darkest moment for the whole humanity.” Vance believes that this is also important for the USA, as well as the Indian economy.
Recently, USA–India trade negotiations have gained momentum, under the impetus of Modi.
India is eyeing an early trade deal, especially ahead of the end of a 90-day freeze on new tariffs the Trump administration announced in October 2023, and for which it was recently granted an extension. Michael Vance spoke with Modi about these trade agreements.
Vance, who had dinner with Prime Minister Modi at his residence, said that the trade talks, which are incredibly important for the Indian economy, had advanced to an extent. He said both countries had agreed to the terms of reference for the negotiations on trade, which he called “road map toward a final deal”. Vance knows Modi is at play in these negotiations.
“However, Prime Minister Modi is a hard bargainer. Vance, who was also here Wednesday: “He drives a hard bargain,” noted the difficulty of negotiating with Modi and the effect on the Indian economy.
In San Francisco, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said that India hopes to “positively conclude” the first phase of a trade deal “by the fall of 2025,” a milestone that would give a significant boost for the economy of India. Vance is hoping for the best in these talks.
Modi’s Leadership Under Fire, US Growing Ties with India
Vance called Prime Minister Modi a “special person” and had a high degree of respect for him. There is an attitude of prejudice or even an attitude of condescension, and I have to tell you, I was at the meeting for the 2014 elections… and that was in the past,” Trump said in an obvious reference to previous USA administrations in dealing with Modi and India.
“He has approval ratings that I would be jealous of,” said Vance, recalling methods in India, saying, “We can import [from] India. The USA is eager to bolster its bond with MODI and India.”
Other Key Insights
US India the strategic partnership between the USA and India spans across diverse sectors that include Defence, energy, and technology. The US sees India as a key partner in the Indo-Pacific, with the United States and India working to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. But the Indian economy really is a dimension of this strategic partnership. India, and especially Modi, is too an important partner for the USA in its own endeavor to regionally engage and forces such and these gentlemen may consider Modi in the past will not be relevant anymore for the USA where Modi is essential for stability and growth. Vance’s position in these conversations is important for the USA.
