Did US tariff pressure influence India’s protocol shift for JD Vance’s airport welcome?

US Vice President J.D. Vance and Second Lady Usha Vance being received by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and other officials upon their arrival in New Delhi.

US Vice President JD Vance, along with his wife Usha Vance and their three children, arrived in Delhi this morning for a four-day India visit. He and the Second Lady were received at the Palam air base by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The American leader was also accorded a ceremonial welcome on his arrival.

VIDEO | US Vice President JD Vance (@VP) receives ceremonial Guard of Honour upon his arrival in Delhi.
(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/wG1KaIxhHI Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 21, 2025

Notably, this welcome accorded to the Vice President of United States was different from the one received by former US President Joe Biden, when he had arrived in India for the G20 Summit in September 2023.

Biden was welcomed at the airport by Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Gen (Retd) VK Singh — a junior minister in comparison to Vaishnaw, who holds a Cabinet-level portfolio.

VIDEO | US President @JoeBiden arrives at Delhi airport. He is received by Union minister @Gen_VKSingh.#G20Summit #G20SummitDelhi pic.twitter.com/eY4bCZIrub Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) September 8, 2023

In 2013, when the then US Vice President Biden and his wife Dr Jill Biden had visited India, they were received by then-Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai and former US Ambassador to India Nancy J Powell. When Vice President Vance arrived in Delhi, there was no US ambassador present, as the position remains vacant.

This clearly reflects an elevation in the level of protocol extended to Vance, the second-highest-ranking official in the US administration.

Traditionally, in India’s diplomatic hierarchy, the rank of the receiving minister is often seen as a signal of the importance attached to the visiting dignitary and their country’s current standing in India’s foreign policy priorities.

What’s behind the change?

When Trump visited India in June 2020, even he and his family were not received by a Cabinet minister. He was received by MoS Hardeep Singh Puri at the airport.

Answering the question of this shift in protocol, one can consider several possible factors, primarily the recalibrating India-US ties in wake of the tariffs announced by President Trump.

Elevating the protocol could be India’s way of reaffirming strategic warmth and maintaining the momentum of bilateral cooperation in defence, trade, and technology.

India was no exception when Trump announced his reciprocal tariffs earlier this month, facing a 26% levy. However, even as Trump imposed this significant tariff, New Delhi chose not to retaliate, signaling a strategic decision to prioritize diplomatic engagement over immediate economic counter-measures. This restraint reflected India's desire to maintain a stable trade relationship with the US, despite the challenging circumstances, and potentially avoid escalating tensions that could negatively impact broader bilateral ties.

Furthermore, following PM Modi's February visit to the US, nearly two months prior to the tariff announcement, India reportedly agreed to increase its purchases of American goods, including crude oil, in an effort to narrow its $47.7 billion trade surplus with the United States.

Another reason could be the advancement of the proposed bilateral trade agreement between the two countries. India and US have reportedly finalised the Terms of Reference (ToRs) for the trade pact that covers around 19 chapters, including goods, services, customs facilitation, and investments. PTI quotes official sources saying that negotiations are set to gain momentum with a high-level Indian delegation visiting Washington next week. The larger goal of the agreement is to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, up from the current $191 billion.

While such protocol changes may seem minor on the surface, they’re often interpreted in diplomatic circles as deliberate signals. In this case, the presence of a Cabinet minister — and not a junior MoS — hints at India’s effort to extend a warmer reception to the Trump administration’s new second-in-command, especially as both countries navigate critical bilateral and global conversations.