US Senator Steve Daines on Tuesday underscored the trust Washington places in New Delhi, using a personal anecdote to contrast America’s relationships with India and China.
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Speaking at an event, the Republican senator from Montana said he leaves his phone behind when travelling to China but carries it with him when visiting India, describing the difference as a reflection of the trust the US places in New Delhi.
“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 phone is with me. And that’s just a small example of a highly trusted ally and friend, that I can’t do that when I go to China. And I’ I’ve made multiple trips to China,” Daines said.
At the same time, he stressed that Washington cannot afford to completely sever ties with Beijing despite the trust deficit. “It’s an important relationship. It’s too big to fail. We can’t disengage from China. We need to engage. We need to,” Daines added.
He said the partnership between India and the United States extends beyond bilateral interests and carries wider global significance.
“The relationship that we have between the United States and India is not only important for our two countries. I think it’s important for the world,” he said during the USISPF Annual Leadership Summit, 2026.
Deeper cooperation to counter China challenge
Daines argued that Washington should take a more strategic view of India’s role in addressing the geopolitical challenges posed by China.
“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,” he said.
Highlighting the scale of STEM education in the two countries, Daines added, “China produces roughly 3.5 million science and tech graduates every year. The only hope we have to compete globally is India plus the United States. India produces about 2-2.5 million STEM graduates. America does about 1 million.”
