June 2025 — At the 8th U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit, Second Lady Usha Vance offered a heartfelt perspective on the growing bond between the United States and India, drawing from her recent visit to India and her Indian heritage. Far from a conventional diplomatic speech, Vance’s remarks reflected a deeply personal narrative of connection, belonging, and shared values between the two democracies.
🇮🇳 A Relationship That’s “Very Personal”
During a fireside chat with USISPF Chairman John Chambers, Vance described the U.S.-India relationship as “very personal.” Her own family roots trace back to Andhra Pradesh, and she recalled visits to India during her childhood that shaped her cultural identity.
“I have family members in India and many here in the United States,” she said. “This relationship is meaningful because it exists not just at a diplomatic level, but in families like mine.”
Vance emphasized that, despite fluctuations in the geopolitical landscape, the people-to-people ties and the strength of the Indian-American community have become the true backbone of the bilateral partnership.
✈️ April 2024 India Visit: “A Trip of a Lifetime”
At the heart of her talk was the Vance family’s four-day official visit to India in April 2024—a trip she described as “transformative,” especially for her three children: Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel. Though raised in a culturally rich household, the trip marked their first physical journey to India.
Their visit included a memorable meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which Vance recounted with warmth and humor. “My kids had met him in Paris, sleep-deprived and fascinated by his white beard. When they saw him again in Delhi, they just hugged him—it was spontaneous,” she said. Modi gifted the children peacock feathers, an iconic symbol of Indian heritage, adding to the sense of connection.
🕌 Culture, Temples, and Autorickshaws
The family’s itinerary balanced iconic tourist sites and immersive cultural experiences. They visited the Taj Mahal at sunrise, Amber Fort in Jaipur, and the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple in New Delhi. But for the children, it was the cultural depth that left the strongest impression.
- Ewan was drawn to temple carvings and the intricate storytelling of Indian mythology.
- Vivek delighted in seeing elephants and camels up close.
- Mirabel enjoyed an autorickshaw ride, safely staged for her by the Secret Service.
A puppet show based on the Ramayana, particularly from Andhra Pradesh, was another highlight. “My kids are still trying to recreate what they saw with construction paper,” Vance shared, laughing.
🌍 Looking Beyond Policy: The Power of People
Usha Vance’s presence at the USISPF summit signals a growing recognition that diplomacy isn’t just crafted in policy papers—it’s also written through shared experiences, cultural appreciation, and personal stories.
“As many people told me how much they love America and how they visit India to see family or just for the joy of it, I realized that these personal connections are the real story,” she reflected.
Her comments came amid discussions on broader topics like QUAD cooperation, with the Summit honoring leaders from IBM, Aditya Birla Group, and Hitachi for promoting U.S.-India-Japan economic ties. This marked the first time that executives from all QUAD nations received recognition together.
🧭 What’s Next?
The Vance family is already planning their next trip to India, hoping to spend more time in regions tied closely to Usha’s heritage in Andhra Pradesh. Their approach—a blend of public diplomacy and personal outreach—highlights how familial and cultural bridges can complement formal bilateral efforts.
As Second Lady Usha Vance demonstrated at USISPF, the future of U.S.-India relations may well be powered not just by strategy and trade deals, but by the stories we share and the deepening bonds between our people.
Source: American Kahani
