US Vice President JD Vance met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi after a red carpet welcome in New Delhi on Monday, as India bids for an early trade deal to stave off punishing tariffs.

Modi’s office said that there had been “significant progress in the negotiations” with the two countries negotiating the first tranche of a trade deal.

New Delhi hopes to secure relief within the 90-day pause on tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump this month.

Vance’s four-day visit comes two months after Modi held talks at the White House with Trump, who unveiled 26 per cent tariffs on India.

An honour guard and troupes of folk dancers greeted Vance after he stepped out into the sweltering sunshine of New Delhi on Monday morning, the start of a four-day tour that will include trips to the historic fort city of Jaipur and the Taj Mahal.

Performers stand next to a poster welcoming US Vice President JD Vance to India, in New Delhi, India on April 21. — Reuters

“Ad-Vance-ing” US-India ties, broadcaster NDTV headlined its stories.

Modi welcomed Vance to his residence on Monday evening with a bear hug, photographs released by the Indian government showed, and later hosted Vance and his family for dinner.

The men discussed boosting “cooperation in energy, defence, strategic technologies and other areas”, Modi’s office said, without giving further details.

‘Boost’

Vance’s visit comes during an escalating trade war between the United States and China. India’s neighbour and rival faces US levies of up to 145pc on many products. Beijing has responded with duties of 125pc on US goods. New Delhi has reacted cautiously so far.

India’s Department of Commerce said after the tariffs were announced, it was “carefully examining the implications”, adding it was “also studying the opportunities that may arise”.