The following excerpt is from an op-ed written by Rishi Gupta, Assistant Director of ASPI New Delhi, and published in Think China.

As trade tensions between the U.S. and China escalate following reciprocal tariffs and economic posturing, America’s growing engagement with India comes in the form of strategic recalibration, aiming to diversify supply chains, reduce dependence on China, and strengthen partnerships with like-minded democracies.

Against this backdrop, Vice-President JD Vance’s first official visit to India from 21-24 April 2025 carried both symbolic and strategic messaging. Accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance, whose parents hail from India, and their three children, his four-day itinerary in India included cultural stopovers such as the Pink City of Jaipur and the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra — a fine blend of diplomacy with personal connection.

Read the full op-ed here.