US won't let India become a rival like China, says Trump's deputy secretary Christopher Landau

At a time when India and the United States are finalising trade deal terms, the US has made it clear that the agreement will not be skewed in India's favour. Addressing the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi, US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stated that Washington will not repeat the same mistakes with India that it made with China.

Landau said the US is excited about the trade deal with India, describing it as "almost at the finish line," and added that it could unlock nearly limitless potential between the two nations. However, he offered a subtle caution to Indian leadership.

"India should understand that we will not make the same mistakes with India that we did with China 20 years ago. We are going to let you develop these markets, and the next thing you know, you are beating us at many commercial things," Landau said.

The event was organized by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF). The MEA has yet to respond to Landau's remarks. While he did not state it directly, his comments suggested that China's economic rise was influenced in part by policies adopted by earlier US administrations, implying that the US will be cautious about creating conditions that might allow another economy to grow to a scale comparable to China's and become a strategic competitor.

"We are going to make sure that whatever we do is fair to our people because ultimately, we have to be accountable to our own people, just as the government of India has to be accountable to its people," he added.

Despite the cautionary note, Landau emphasized the strong potential for India and the US to build a mutually beneficial partnership, particularly in technology and artificial intelligence, while also encouraging India to increase energy imports from the US.

According to Landau, strengthening ties serves the interests of both countries. He highlighted India's vast economic strength and abundant human talent, which will play a key role in shaping the century ahead. He suggested that India would benefit from deepening its relationship with the US on the basis of reciprocity and mutual respect. In his view, the coming years could lay the groundwork for closer cooperation between the two nations, moving beyond the Cold War-era distance India maintained from Washington.

Landau also highlighted shared priorities, including combating terrorism and safeguarding freedom of navigation in international waters. He pointed out that recent developments in defence collaboration reflect progress that would have been difficult to imagine just a few years ago.

He further described the scope for energy collaboration between India and the US as virtually unlimited. Landau also referred to the appointment of Sergio Gor as the American envoy to India, noting that Gor's close relationship with Donald Trump influenced the decision.