Michael Waltz is scheduled to be in India from April 21 to 23
In a significant signal of Washington’s continued focus on its partnership with India, United States Vice President J D Vance and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz are expected to arrive in New Delhi on April 21. The visits come at a time when global concerns persist over President Donald Trump’s evolving policy on tariffs, which has already caused trade disruptions and fears of a broader economic slowdown.
According to senior sources, the two US officials will undertake their trips separately. Vice President Vance’s visit will be a mix of personal and official engagements, while NSA Waltz is expected to focus exclusively on bilateral strategic and security matters. Both are scheduled to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi before his departure to Saudi Arabia on April 22.
Michael Waltz is scheduled to be in India from April 21 to 23. His agenda includes a series of high-level discussions with Indian counterparts on regional security, particularly the evolving situation in the Indo-Pacific, and on expanding cooperation in high technology, critical minerals, and export controls. His visit is expected to mark the formal unveiling of the India-US TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology) initiative, which was announced following recent talks between PM Modi and President Trump.
The TRUST initiative succeeds the earlier US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), which was launched in May 2022 during the Joe Biden administration. While iCET laid the groundwork for cooperation in sectors such as semiconductors, defence, and advanced telecommunications, TRUST aims to build on that momentum and reflect the strategic priorities of the current leadership in both countries.
Waltz, a strong advocate of robust India-US ties, is expected to meet National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. He is also likely to hold talks with Prime Minister Modi as part of his visit.
Vice President Vance, accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance and their children, will be in India on a longer trip. Although his itinerary includes several private engagements, his schedule also features key diplomatic interactions in New Delhi. The Vance family is reportedly planning to visit Shimla, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Delhi, suggesting a cultural component to their travel.
The visits follow closely on the heels of a trip by US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard, who met PM Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, EAM Jaishankar and NSA Doval during her time in India. These successive high-level engagements reflect the strategic weight both countries place on bilateral cooperation amid global uncertainties.
Adding to the diplomatic backdrop, President Trump recently announced a 90-day pause on a wide-ranging tariff policy that excluded only China. The move came after widespread criticism from trading partners and economic observers who warned of a potential global trade war. The Trump administration’s tariff decisions have sparked volatility in international markets and brought trade issues to the centre of the India-US dialogue.
Talks between PM Modi and President Trump in Washington earlier this year also resulted in a joint announcement to begin negotiating the first tranche of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by autumn 2025. This upcoming phase of trade talks is likely to be a key focus during the visit of both Vance and Waltz.
Their visit underscores not only the growing breadth of India-US relations but also the complexity of navigating economic and security concerns in an increasingly interconnected and unpredictable global landscape.
