Reuters. The United States is looking to sell more energy and defence equipment to India, Vice President JD Vance said on Tuesday (April 22) on a visit to the country, adding that ties between the two countries will shape the century.
Vance said in a speech in the northwestern Indian city of Jaipur that if the two countries "fail to work together successfully, the 21st century could be a very dark time for all of humanity."
He also repeatedly praised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi following their dinner on Monday (April 21). Vance is on a mostly personal, four-day visit to India along with his wife, who is the daughter of Indian immigrants, and their three children.
The trip comes at a time when India is rushing to clinch an early trade deal with the U.S. - its largest trading partner - before the end of the 90-day pause on the steep tariffs announced by President Donald Trump's administration.
India hopes to "positively conclude" the first part of a trade pact by autumn, Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman 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.
