Agra (Uttar Pradesh) [India], April 23 (ANI): United States Vice President JD Vance, accompanied by Second Lady Usha Vance and their children, visited the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra on Tuesday, completing a key highlight of his official four-day visit to India. The family was received earlier in the day by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, marking the final stop of a tour that has spotlighted the strengthening ties between India and the United States.

The Vance family's visit to the Taj Mahal showcased a blend of cultural appreciation and diplomacy. Their visit to the 17th-century monument was part of a wider itinerary that included notable cultural and symbolic engagements across the country.

Earlier in the trip, Vance defended President Donald Trump's trade policies during an event in Jaipur, positioning them as part of a broader mission to create a more balanced global economic framework. 'Critics have attacked my president, President Trump, for starting a trade war in an effort to bring back the jobs of the past, but nothing could be further from the truth,' Vance said. 'He seeks to rebalance global trade so that America, with friends like India, can build a future worth having for all of our people together,' he added.

Vance also announced that India and the US had formally finalised the terms of reference for a future trade agreement. He described this as a vital step toward fulfilling the joint vision of doubling bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by the end of the decade. 'When President Trump and Prime Minister Modi announced in February that our countries aim to more than double our bilateral trade... I know that both of them meant it,' he affirmed. Stressing the core focus of the agreement, he said, 'Both of our governments are hard at work on a trade agreement built on shared priorities,' including job creation, resilient supply chains, and mutual economic growth.

On the geopolitical front, Vance welcomed India's role as the upcoming host of the QUAD summit later this year. He called it 'fitting,' emphasising that the US and India's interests in maintaining a free, open, and secure Indo-Pacific are 'fully aligned.' He further noted that the US conducts more military exercises with India than with any other country.

The Vice President's visit to India has included stops at the Akshardham Temple in Delhi, Jaipur's Amber Fort, and the Central Cottage Industries Emporium, culminating in today's visit to the Taj Mahal--a personal and symbolic gesture underscoring the depth of US-India relations. (ANI)