US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau described India as “one of the great powers in the world” and said the United States wants to be part of India’s rise and economic success story. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the ‘SelectUSA Investment Summit’, Landau emphasised India’s growing geopolitical and economic importance, noting that the country’s massive population and expanding economy would shape the course of the 21st century. Landau said there was “no question” that India had emerged as one of the world’s major powers. Referring to India as the most populous nation globally, he said the country possesses enormous economic potential that remained underutilised for decades because of the economic models it had previously pursued.
According to Landau, India is now positioned for significant economic growth that could lift “many hundreds of millions of people” out of poverty. He added that Washington fully recognises India’s importance in global affairs and expects the country to play a defining role in the present century. “If you look at the history of the century that we’re living in, I think India is going to loom very large in this century, and we are very aware of India’s importance on the world stage,” Landau said during the interaction.
March remarks at Raisina Dialogue had triggered controversy
Landau’s latest praise for India comes only weeks after his controversial remarks at the Raisina Dialogue in March, where he suggested that the administration of US President Donald Trump would not permit India to expand beyond limits acceptable to Washington.
Addressing diplomats and strategic experts at the conference, Landau had said the United States would avoid repeating what he described as past mistakes made with China. He argued that Washington had earlier enabled China’s economic rise, only to later face commercial competition from Beijing.
“India should understand that we’re not going to make the same mistakes that we made with China 20 years ago in terms of saying, ‘Oh, you know, we’re going to let you be able to develop all these markets and then, you know, the next thing we know is you’re beating us in a lot of commercial events’,” Landau had remarked at the Raisina Dialogue.
The statement had drawn widespread attention within diplomatic circles, with many observers describing the remarks as unusually blunt and inconsistent with established diplomatic norms and violation of unwritten diplomatic conventions.
India-US Trade Agreement “Very Close”
Landau also provided an update on the long-pending bilateral trade agreement between India and the United States. He said negotiations between the two countries were nearing completion, although he stopped short of giving a definite timeline for the final signing.
“We have been talking now for months that we are very close, and I think we are very close. But we have to get over that last hurdle,” he said. Landau added that it was important for both governments to conclude the agreement soon so they could move ahead on broader strategic and economic priorities. “I think ultimately it’s important that we reach some closure on that and we finally sign it and move on with the many other issues on our agenda,” he stated.
Trade discussions between New Delhi and Washington have continued since the framework for the agreement was announced earlier this year. Both countries are seeking to improve market access and strengthen broader economic cooperation through the proposed pact. However, recent legal developments in the United States have complicated the final phase of negotiations. A ruling by the US Supreme Court affecting tariff-related policies has reportedly forced the Trump administration to re-examine certain aspects of the agreement, creating an additional layer of complexity before the deal can be formally concluded.
