Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: US Vice-President J D Vance, who is in India on a four-day visit with his family, said on Tuesday that the ties between the two largest democracies—India and the US—will shape the 21st century.
Speaking at an event hosted by the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC) in Jaipur, he stressed the importance of a successful India-US alliance for global peace and prosperity, warning that their failure to collaborate could lead to darker times for humanity.
The US is looking to sell more energy and defence equipment to India, Vice- President Vance said, adding America wants greater access to the Indian markets.
“If India and the US work together successfully, we’re going to see a 21st century that is prosperous and peaceful,” he said.
“But I also believe that if we fail to work together successfully, the 21st century could be a very dark time for all of humanity.”
He also repeatedly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi following their dinner on Monday.
V-P Vance is on a mostly personal visit to India along with his wife, who is the daughter of Indian immigrants from Andhra Pradesh, and their three children.
His trip comes at a time when India is rushing to clinch an early trade deal with the US, its largest trading partner, before the end of the 90-day pause on the steep tariffs announced by President Donald Trump’s administration.
“Prime Minister Modi is a tough negotiator. He drives a hard bargain,” Vance said to a big laughter from the audience.
India hopes to “positively conclude” the first part of a trade pact by autumn, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, who is in the US, said in San Francisco on Monday.
Vance said he and Modi made good progress on trade talks, and confirmed that the two sides had finalised the terms of reference for the trade negotiation.
“It sets a roadmap toward a final deal between our nations,” he said.
“In India, America has a friend,” Vance said, according to the media reports.
He also called for India to increase its purchase of American military equipment, saying that New Delhi stands to gain from deepening its defence partnership with Washington. The US is eager to collaborate more closely with India in areas such as national security, infrastructure, emerging technology, and energy.
He highlighted the already strong defence ties between the two countries, noting the shared national security goals and the potential to build cutting-edge military platforms together. He pointed to the possibility of India acquiring advanced American military technology, like the F-35 fighter jets, which he described as “best in class” and ideal for enhancing India’s air defence capabilities.
“We want to collaborate more, we want to work together more, and we of course want your nation to buy more of our American military equipment,” Vance said, stressing that advanced platforms like the F-35s would enable the Indian Air Force to protect its airspace and citizens “like never before.”
“In defence, our countries enjoy a close relationship… we can build many military platforms,” Vance said, adding that both countries shared common goals in both economics and national security.
He stressed how India has as much to gain through a partnership, adding that there was “much more India and America can accomplish together.”
The V-P also made clear the Trump administration’s vision for cooperation with India. “President Trump wants America to grow. He wants India to grow, and he wants to build a future with our partners all the way,” he said.
“We’re not here to preach that you do things any one particular way,” he stated.
“Too often in the past, Washington approached Prime Minister Modi with an attitude of preaching. Prior administrations saw India as a source of low-cost labour… even as they criticised the Prime Minister’s government, arguably the most popular in the democratic world.”
Vance said he told PM Modi, whom he met on Monday, that his approval ratings “would make me jealous”, acknowledging the Indian leader’s strong domestic support.
“Now I believe that our nations have much to offer to one another, and that’s why we come to you as partners, looking to strengthen our relationship,” he said.