Vivek Ramaswamy, an Indian-American Republican presidential candidate, has expressed admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and highlighted India’s role in deterring China in the Indo-Pacific region. He also acknowledged that the United States has occasionally been less reliable than desired and mentioned his intention to strengthen the relationship as President.
Speaking on the ‘Valuentainment’ platform’s PBD podcast, Ramaswamy responded to questions about his connection with PM Modi by stating, “I don’t know him yet, but… the morning before he came for his joint session (at US Congress), one of the people had me as their guest, so I stuck around and heard his address. I have been impressed by him as a leader.”
While commending PM Modi’s leadership, Ramaswamy urged India to enhance its military commitments and address trade issues. He emphasized the importance of India becoming a reliable partner for the United States as a deterrent to China, particularly regarding Taiwan.
Ramaswamy stated, “If you want to think about a conflict situation with Taiwan, what people forget is the Indian Ocean is where the Middle Eastern oil supplies run through to get to China. So if India is actually a reliable partner, that is a further deterrent to Xi Jinping even going after Taiwan.”
He further explained that his vision for deterring China from taking action against Taiwan, while avoiding armed conflict over the island, is a top priority in terms of foreign policy for the next US president.
Ramaswamy also articulated his stance on US foreign policy, emphasizing that he would focus on advancing American interests rather than acting as a “moral arbiter” in the world. He expressed a commitment to fulfilling his moral obligation to American citizens.
Regarding his readiness to engage with world leaders like Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin, Ramaswamy acknowledged their skills but noted that they also have insecurities.
It’s worth noting that Ramaswamy has criticized US support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, advocating for a resolution that involves Moscow retaining parts of the Donbas region and Kyiv not joining NATO. He has argued that this approach could prompt Putin to leave his military alliance with China, weakening Beijing’s ability to invade Taiwan.
Meanwhile former US President Donald Trump has praised Indian-origin Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, suggesting he would make a “very good” vice presidential candidate due to his intelligence and positive energy.
Although Ramaswamy has seen a rise in GOP primary polls, he still lags significantly behind former President Donald Trump in popularity.
The next US presidential election is scheduled for November 5, 2024.
Also Read: US President Joe Biden ‘hopeful’ of having Xi Jinping at G20 Summit in India
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