Vice President JD Vance delivers remarks at the Rajasthan International Centre on April 22, 2025, in Jaipur, India. (Kenny Holston - Pool/Getty Images)
"Both of our governments are hard at work on a trade agreement built on shared priorities, like creating new jobs, building durable supply chains and achieving prosperity for our workers," Vance said on Tuesday. "In our meeting yesterday, Prime Minister Modi and I made very good progress on all of those points, and we’re especially excited to formally announce that America and India have officially finalized the terms of reference for the trade negotiations. I think this is a vital step toward realizing President Trump and Prime Minister Modi’s vision because it sets a roadmap toward a final deal between our nations. I believe there is much America and India can accomplish together."
Vance noted that his trip to India was the first time he had visited the birthplace of the parents of his wife, Usha Vance. The vice president, the second lady and their three children visited Modi for dinner on Monday.
In his speech Tuesday, Vance said his children have only built a rapport with two world leaders – Trump and Modi, who the second family first met in February at the AI Action Summit in Paris.
"Our kids just like him," Vance said, arguing that children are "brutally honest" and typically good judges of character. "I just like Prime Minister Modi too. And I think it’s a great foundation for the future of our relationship."
"President Trump and I know that Prime Minister Modi is a tough negotiator. He drives a hard bargain. It's one of the reasons why we respect him. And we don't blame Prime Minister Modi for fighting for India's industry," Vance said. "But we do blame American leaders of the past for failing to do the same for our workers. And we believe that we can fix that to the mutual benefit of both the United States and India."
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi greets U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his family at his residence in New Delhi, India, on April 21, 2025. (Press Information Bureau/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Vance said the Trump administration recognizes that "cheap, dependable energy is an essential part of making things and is an essential part of economic independence for both of our nations." He said America is "blessed with vast natural resources and an unusual capacity to generate energy," arguing that India would benefit from purchasing expanding U.S. energy exports by being able "to build more, make more, and grow more, but at much lower energy costs."
"We also want to help India explore its own considerable natural resources, including its offshore natural gas reserves and critical mineral supplies," he said. "We believe that American energy can help realize India's nuclear power production goals, and this is very important as well as its AI ambitions, because as the United States knows well, and I know that India knows well there is no AI future without energy security and energy dominance."
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"Americans want further access to Indian markets. This is a great place to do business, and we want to give our people more access to this country," Vance said. "And Indians, we believe, will thrive from greater commerce in the United States. This is very much a win-win partnership. It certainly will be far into the future."
Danielle Wallace is a breaking news and politics reporter at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to danielle.wallace@fox.com and on X: @danimwallace.
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