At the 8th US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit in Washington, Usha Vance, Second Lady of the United States, called the India-US relationship “very personal,” citing her Indian roots and deep familial ties across both countries.
Her comments struck an emotional chord at a time when bilateral relations are increasingly defined by shared values and growing strategic cooperation.
“I have family members in India, and I grew up visiting them. So that’s always been a relationship that I’ve personally thought of as very important,” Vance said during a fireside chat with John Chambers, USISPF Chairman and JC2 Ventures CEO.
Speaking to an audience that included top business leaders, policymakers, and diplomats from both countries, Vance highlighted that the relationship between India and the US has had its “ebbs and flows,” but now represents a period of “great opportunity.”
She noted the growing Indian-American population in the US and emphasized how these people-to-people connections are key to sustaining and strengthening the strategic, cultural, and economic ties between the two nations.
Vance also fondly recalled a recent visit to India with her husband, Vice President J.D. Vance, and their three children. She said she was “struck” by the number of Indians who expressed admiration for the United States and shared personal stories about family members living or studying in America.
“These personal ties really have something to do with the strength of the relationship,” she said, adding that it builds mutual goodwill and understanding.
The summit also saw the 2025 Global Leadership Awards being presented to:
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Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO of IBM
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Kumar Mangalam Birla, Chairman of the Aditya Birla Group
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Toshiaki Higashihara, Executive Chairman of Hitachi
These recognitions celebrated their roles in bolstering the economic partnerships among the QUAD nations — India, the US, Japan, and Australia.
As the Second Lady’s remarks resonated across the summit, they reflected not just her own personal connection to India but the broader trajectory of the India-US relationship, one increasingly defined by shared goals in defense, trade, technology, and democratic values.
The USISPF, a non-profit institution, plays a vital role in nurturing this relationship, facilitating dialogue and cooperation between the world’s two largest democracies.
