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‘My Phone Goes To Delhi, Not Beijing’: US Senator Draws Sharp Trust Contrast Between India And China
US Republican Senator Steve Daines SpeakS at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit in Washington. (Image: ANI)
Highlighting the trust deficit between Washington and Beijing, US Republican Senator Steve Daines said he carries his mobile phone while travelling to India but deliberately leaves it behind when visiting China.
Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) Leadership Summit in Washington on Tuesday, Daines used his phone as an example to underscore his confidence in India, describing it as the United States' most important strategic partner in counterbalancing China.
"When I travel to China, this phone does not go to Beijing with me. It stays on my desk in Washington DC. When I travel to Delhi or anywhere in India, this one is with me," Daines, Republican Senator from Montana, said while speaking at the Summit, where he was reportedly presented with the USISPF Public Service Award for his efforts towards cementing bilateral relations.
Elaborating on the India-US partnership, Daines said New Delhi, in partnership with Washington, stands as the unique nation equipped to rival the dimension and proportions of China's innovation network, describing the bilateral ties as crucial not just for the two democracies but for the global community.
Daines further observed that while the United States cannot completely break ties with China, it must prioritise de-risking its operations while simultaneously creating dependable strategic alliances.
'India Only Country That Can Match...': US Senator
Stating that Washington needs to adopt a more strategic approach regarding India's role while countering the geopolitical challenge presented by China, Daines said, "We need a high-trust counterpoint as we think about what's going on with China," he said.
The Senator acknowledged the importance of the integrated talent pool of India and said the United States provides the necessary scale to compete on the global stage. "There's only one country in the world that can match the size and scale of China's innovation ecosystem, and it's India working with the United States," Daines affirmed, adding, "The only hope we have, thinking globally to compete with that, to build the scale, is gonna be India plus the United States."
The US Senator, who has travelled extensively across Asia, also emphasised that direct personal diplomacy remains vital for shaping impactful foreign policy. "Nothing beats visiting and spending time with the people," he remarked.
(With agency inputs)
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