Latest news with #Vances
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
JD Vance's India visit: Exploring Akshardham, Taj Mahal, Amer Fort, and more, full itinerary revealed
JD Vance, the vice president of the U.S. is currently in India. He is visiting the country for the first time with his wife Usha and three kids. The highlights of his four-day travel itinerary include a trip to Delhi's Akshardham, the Taj Mahal in Agra and Amer Fort in Jaipur. Vance landed in Delhi on April 21 and visited Akshardham Temple with his family. Dressed in beautiful traditional Indian attire, Vance's three kids, named Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel were in awe of the beauty of the temple. Soon after, he shared a message, "Thank you so much for your hospitality and kindness in welcoming me and my family to this beautiful place. It is a great credit to India that you built a beautiful temple with precision and care. Our kids in particular loved it. God bless". Another highlight of their Delhi visit also included a visit to the crafts emporium in Janpath, where they bought tea bags, honey, and pottery items. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like News For Jack Nicholson, 87, He Has Been Confirmed To Be... Reportingly Undo On April 22, the Vance-family reached Jaipur to explore the grand Amer Fort. The family was greeted by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari at the fort, where a grand cultural reception awaited them. As they entered the main courtyard, Jaleb Chowk, two decorated female elephants named Chanda and Mala, greeted them with raised trunks, adding a majestic touch to the whole ceremony. Soon after, the Vances were then treated to a colourful cultural performance, which included traditional folk dances such as Kacchi Ghodi, Ghoomar, and Kalbeliya, offering them a delightful glimpse into the rich and colorful culture of Rajasthan. While speaking in Jaipur, Vance shared that children are often bluntly honest, whether we want them to be or not. He went on to say, "There are only two world leaders with whom I've seen my children form a close bond. The first is President Trump—there's something about his energy. The second is Prime Minister Modi. I observed my children having that same connection with Prime Minister Modi." There's no doubt that since the beginning of his visit to India, Vance's kids have been the spotlight. Whether it's their charming demeanor or their traditional Indian attire, they have been the center of attention over the past two days. Vance expressed his heartfelt admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, praising his leadership and describing how both he and his family were deeply moved by Modi's welcome and his kindness. As per the itinerary, Vances will visit Agra on April 23. They plan to visit the iconic Taj Mahal, as well as Shilpgram, a market renowned for its Indian art and crafts. They will leave for the U.S. on April 24.
NDTV
22-04-2025
- Business
- NDTV
Opinion: What Has JD Vance's India Visit Achieved?
Apart from the minor detail that the US is India's largest trading partner, there's this critical matter of matrimony. The second lady of the US, Usha Vance, is of Telugu descent and like a good girl from a good family, she's prevailed on her husband to be his charming self and visit the 'in-laws'. And that's precisely what he's doing. It is quite likely that the visiting Vances may achieve more for the North-South unity in India than any well-intentioned political action ever will. After all, despite Mrs Vance's roots in Andhra Pradesh and the presence of extended family in the southern state, the Vance family has only the northern delights on their itinerary. However, it must be said that April is not the best time to go sightseeing in Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur. But when you are busy and important, you indulge in brutal rationing of your travel time. Only the most critical items on the to-do list get checked. Visiting the Taj Mahal is important. As is the visit to 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, the official residence of the Indian Prime Minister. Whether the tariff talk happened between the US Vice President and PM Narendra Modi, the visit is already a success, as reported by the former's office. In fact, talking business would be off-colour in a milieu where the PM of the largest democracy of the world becomes a congenial grandfather figure to the three little Vances. Until there's an expected unexpected bombshell of an announcement from the White House around bilateral trade, this familial interaction will become the leitmotif for the two countries' relationship. Just like the enthusiastic hugs between President Barack Obama and PM Modi. PM Modi has redefined India's foreign policy by making personal gestures a part of the plan. The decorated swing at Ahmedabad for Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit, bear hugs with the French President Emmanuel Macaron, and the immortal Team Melodi moment with the Italian PM Georgia Meloni are some of the examples of PM Modi's on-brand personalisation of geopolitics. Whether these gestures have translated into the gains that India hopes for is a contested matter. After all, the Galwan standoff happened within a few months of the Modi-Xi summit in Mahabalipuram in October 2019. It can be successfully argued that PM Modi's show of bonhomie with the world leaders is aimed primarily at domestic consumption. One of the biggest reasons cited by voters election after election is PM Modi raising India's profile on the world stage. But if anyone thinks that the optics of the present visit are only furthering PM Modi's reputational agenda, they'd be missing a critical point. With the rise of Indian Americans' political profile in the US, both Democrats and Republicans actively wooed the community. While the presidential candidate of the Democratic party, Kamala Harris, invoked her Indian mother, the Republican campaign matched it by highlighting the vice presidential candidate's Indian American wife. There is no evidence yet whether the 'desi' card worked for either but not playing it would have meant ceding some political ground. And when you have a card, you better use it whenever you can. Some predictability in Indo-US relations amidst unpredictable While House The Vance entourage is also accompanied by Ricky Gill, Senior Director for South and Central Asia at the US National Security Council. Gill served as the director for Russia and European Energy Security at the NSC during the first Trump presidency. He was also a senior advisor in the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations. During the Biden presidency, Gill advocated against Nord Stream 2, a 1,234-kilometre-long natural gas pipeline from Russia to Germany, which allegedly aligns Russia's interests with China's ambitions in the region, with the German port of Mukran being the site of the handshake. After a successful sabotage in 2022, there is talk of its revival, with a potential US ownership. This move will be an example of the US's attempts at decoupling Russia and China. Trump administration sees China as the prime adversary. The recent trade tariffs have exemplified this attitude. Washington DC deems New Delhi as its most important ally in the region to check Beijing. While Vance put the charm on, Gill is expected to have done the work that's needed to not just iron out the trade wrinkles between India and the US but also towards the Trump administration's contain-China policy. But how much can New Delhi give to the US-India partnership without rattling Beijing in its neighbourhood? The unpredictability of policy decisions made in the White House also merits a cautious approach on India's part. There is no win that a US ally can claim that is not susceptible to being overturned without warning. The only win that India can reasonably hope for is that the Vice President and his family can prevail on the POTUS to stop publicly calling India a "tariff abuser" and "tariff king" till some resolution on that front is reached.
Deccan Herald
21-04-2025
- Deccan Herald
US VP Vance, family visit Delhi's Cottage Emporium; admire Indian handicrafts
The Vances, who landed in Delhi this morning, began their India visit with a morning tour of the Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple, situated near the banks of the Yamuna.
NDTV
21-04-2025
- NDTV
"Our Kids Loved It": JD Vance Visits Akshardham Temple With Family
New Delhi: US Vice President J D Vance, his Indian-origin wife Usha and their three children began their India trip on Monday with a visit to the sprawling Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple near the banks of the Yamuna. The Vances, who are here for a four-day visit during which they are also scheduled to travel to Jaipur and Agra, were at the temple complex for about an hour. The children -- Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel, all three dressed in Indian attire -- were the cynosure of many an eye. "Thank you all so much for your hospitality and kindness in welcoming me and my family to this beautiful place. It is a great credit to India that you built a beautiful temple with precision and care. Our kids, in particular, loved it. God bless," the vice president wrote in the temple guest book. Once done, the family posed for camera crews outside the imposing facade of the temple. "They were given a traditional welcome after which they had 'darshan'. A carved wooden elephant, a model of the Delhi Akshardham Temple and children's books were gifted to the family," a priest at the temple told PTI. Temple volunteer Meera Sondagar added that the vice president was especially captivated by the intricately sculpted Gajendra Peeth, a plinth adorned with carvings of elephants that symbolises strength and wisdom. "He was shown the entire Akshardham complex and was deeply moved by the experience. He said he felt a sense of peace here," she said. The temple also put out a post on X about the visit. "The US Vice President JD Vance, Second Lady Usha Vance and their children visited Swaminarayan Akshardham in Delhi 'their first stop in India' experiencing its majestic art, architecture and timeless values of faith, family and harmony." "The Vance family explored the mandir's majestic art and architecture, experiencing India's heritage and cultural depth and they appreciated the messages of harmony, family values, and timeless wisdom embodied in the Akshardham campus," it added. Inaugurated in 2005, the temple dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan is a must see for most visitors to the capital. Swaminarayan, believed to be an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, established the Swaminarayan faith and renewed the ideals of Hinduism in 18th century India. He established a spiritual way of life and code of conduct to be followed, according to the website of BAPS Swaminarayan. Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visited the temple during their India tour last year. The Vance family arrived in Delhi to a warm reception earlier in the day and was received at the airport by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Later in the evening, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to host a private dinner for the Vances following bilateral talks. Vance's first visit to India comes weeks after US President Donald Trump imposed and then paused a sweeping tariff regime against around 60 countries, including India. The two sides are currently working to seal a bilateral trade pact focused on tariff relief and enhanced market access.
USA Today
28-03-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Vances set for Greenland visit amid raised eyebrows, no dogs, few Greenlanders
Vances set for Greenland visit amid raised eyebrows, no dogs, few Greenlanders Show Caption Hide Caption JD and Usha Vance head to Greenland in scaled-back visit The vice president and second lady departed for Greenland in a scaled-back visit that was initially planned for just Usha Vance and her son. Vice President JD Vance and other senior Trump administration officials were due to visit a U.S. military base in Greenland on Friday − hundreds of miles away from any Greenlandic officials or a major civilian population. Vance, his wife, Usha; national security adviser Mike Waltz; and energy secretary Chris Wright were traveling to the Danish territory as President Donald Trump continues to openly talk about acquiring Greenland. The visit has raised eyebrows. Vance goes to Greenland: VP's trip raises questions over Trump bid for island Friday's trip is a scaled-back version of an excursion that was supposed to see the second lady and one of the Vances' sons attend cultural events, a dog-sledding race and spend time talking to Greenlanders in the capital Nuuk. The high-powered U.S. delegation revised its itinerary amid a backlash from Greenlandic and Danish officials because of Trump's repeated comments. Here's what you need to know about the scrambled trip and what threatened to be a frosty reception. Why did the U.S. change its Greenland plans? The initial plan called for the second lady to visit the Avannaata Qimussersua, a popular dog-sled race, together with Waltz. But they were not invited by official authorities in either Greenland or Denmark. Officials in both places said the visit appeared like an effort to meddle in the island's internal politics and rally support for closer U.S. ties. Greenland's outgoing Prime Minister Mute Egede called the visit a "provocation," partly because the territory had not yet, when the trip was announced, formed a new government after a March 11 election. A pro-business party that emerged as the winner of the vote formally announced a coalition on Friday, led by Jens-Frederik Nielsen. What will the Vances do in Greenland now? The American delegation was expected to fly directly to the U.S. Space Force base at Pituffik in the remote northern part of the Arctic island, about 750 miles from the North Pole. There, they will receive a briefing on security issues and meet with U.S. service members. The vice president will deliver remarks. Utah Sen. Mike Lee and Waltz's wife, Julia Nesheiwat, a former Department of Homeland Security advisor, were also on the trip, according to the White House. It was expected to be a day visit. Pituffik Space Base has about 650 personnel. This includes U.S. Air Force and Space Force members, as well as Canadian, Danish and Greenlandic civilian contractors. Some Greenlandic and Danish media reports suggested that one of the reasons why the White House downgraded the trip to a single day was because they had a hard time finding locals willing to greet the second lady. One travel agency based in Nuuk said it rescinded its offer to receive the second lady after initially saying it would. "After closer consideration," the travel agency based in Nuuk said in a Facebook post, "we have now informed the (U.S.) consulate that we do not want her visit, as we cannot accept the underlying agenda and will not be part of the press show that of course, comes with it." The firm added: 'Greenland belongs to the Greenlanders.' 'No, thank you': Greenland residents asked if they want to greet Usha Vance There were also protests planned at the dog-sledding race, according to Martin Breum, a Danish journalist and author who specializes in Greenland and Arctic affairs and is currently in Nuuk. He said protesters intended to turn their backs at the second lady at the event Saturday in Sisimiut, Greenland's second-largest city. Why does Trump want to control Greenland? A longstanding defense agreement between the U.S. and Denmark gave the U.S. the right to construct military bases in Greenland and move around the island freely, provided Denmark and Greenland are notified. Trump: Greenland officials invited US delegation. Not true, says Greenland But Trump says − and Denmark rejects − the U.S. needs to exert more control over the territory so it can expand a ballistic missile warning system capable of shooting down missiles from American adversaries. Greenland also boasts mineral, oil and natural gas wealth. There are mining companies operating in Greenland. They are mostly Australian, Canadian or British. The White House wants more U.S. companies to operate in Greenland so they can provide the U.S. with so-called rare earth minerals used in the production of cellphones, electric vehicles and other technology and defense systems. The U.S. currently gets most of its rare earths from China. Who invited the Vances to Greenland? According to his own admission, it was Tom Dans, a former member of the U.S. Arctic Research Commission during Trump's first presidency, who invited the U.S. delegation. Dans runs a company called American Daybreak that promotes closer U.S.-Greenland business ties. He said the visit would help the Trump administration understand where it could collaborate further with Greenland. USAID cuts fallout: Wasted food, 'free-for-all' ISIS camps, less HIV prevention Dans was also a sponsor of the dog-sled race, along with the U.S. State Department, according to an NPR report. The outlet said the State Department provided a grant to transport the dogs, sleds and racers by air from around Greenland for the race. NPR noted that the grant, which it reported was in the "range of tens of thousands of dollars," came at a time when Secretary of State Marco Rubio has cancelled more than 80% of foreign aid grants.
