Vance urges India to drop non-tariff barriers; buy more US energy, military hardware

“There’s much that we can create, much that we can do together. We believe that American energy can help realise India’s nuclear power production goals,” he said. “And this is very important as well as its AI ambitions, because it’s the United States knows well and I know that India knows well, there is no AI future without energy security and energy dominance.”

The US vice-president also pitched for deeper India-US defence collaboration and suggested that New Delhi procure more military hardware from his country, “We actually feel that India has much more to gain from its continued defence partnership with the United States. And let me sketch that out a little bit. We, of course, want to collaborate more, we want to work together more and we want your nation to buy more of our military equipment, which of course we believe is the best in class,” he said.

“American fifth generation F-35s (jets) for example would give the Indian Air Force the ability to defend your airspace and protect your people like never before,” he said.

Recalling the Modi-Trump meeting in Washington in February, Vance said it laid a the foundation for closer bilateral defence collaboration. From Javelins to Stryker combat vehicles, our nations will co-produce many of the munitions and equipment that we will need to deter foreign aggressors, not because we seek war, but because we seek peace and we believe the best path to peace is through mutual strength.

“It’s fitting that India this year is hosting the Quad leaders summit this fall. Our interests in a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific are in full alignment. Both of us know that the region must remain safe from any hostile powers that seek to dominate,” he said.

Vance and his family arrived in Jaipur last night. They are scheduled to travel to Agra on Wednesday.