New Delhi-Jaipur, April 22 — It was handshakes, heart-to-hearts, and a whole lot of hope as US Vice President J.D. Vance brought old-school manufacturing grit and fresh diplomatic charm to India this week. With stops in Delhi’s power corridors and Jaipur’s vibrant streets, Vance’s first-ever visit to India was anything but routine — it was a reaffirmation that the India-US partnership is not just surviving, but thriving.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out the red carpet for the rising American political star, hosting Vance, his wife Usha, and their three children — Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel — at his Lok Kalyan Marg residence. The gathering wasn’t just about photo ops and pleasantries. Modi and Vance got down to serious business, reviewing rapid progress since the PM’s whirlwind Washington trip in January and their strategic chat on the sidelines of the AI Summit in Paris.

Taking to X, PM Modi gushed about the “fast-paced progress” in trade, tech, defence, energy, and good old-fashioned people-to-people exchanges. “The India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership will be a defining partnership of the 21st Century for a better future of our people and the world,” he declared.

And it wasn’t all protocol and suits. The Vance kids, embracing the spirit of India, showed up in traditional Indian attire, capturing hearts as they visited Delhi’s majestic Swaminarayan Akshardham temple before joining the PM for dinner. With President Donald Trump slated to visit India later this year, the vibes between New Delhi and Washington have never felt warmer.

But it was in Jaipur where Vance dropped the suit and tie to open his heart. Speaking at an event packed with business leaders and policymakers, the Vice President shared a raw, personal story — the rise and fall of his hometown, Middletown, Ohio, once a booming manufacturing hub and now a cautionary tale of economic neglect.

“I come from a town where generations built things,” Vance said, painting a vivid picture of a community fueled by hard work, faith, and family. “We struck good deals with partners, we respected labour, and we built a great middle class. But bad policies and broken priorities hollowed it out.”

Yet Vance wasn’t there to wallow in nostalgia — he was on a mission. “America has woken up,” he said passionately. “We seek trade partners who respect workers, value fairness, and share common goals. In India, we have found that friend.”

Drawing a direct line from Middletown’s past to America’s future, Vance championed President Trump’s vision of reshaping global trade into a system that is open, balanced, stable — and above all — fair. “We don’t need partners to be exactly like us,” he said. “We need them to believe in something bigger — in building, in producing, and in respecting the dignity of work.”

As the sun set over Jaipur’s palaces and forts, Vance left no doubt: the US-India bond is being reforged not just with deals and diplomacy, but with dreams and determination.

For Vance — and for Modi — the message was crystal clear: In India, America has a friend. And the future looks bright.