A stronger relationship with India would help the US declare ‘independence’ from China, Indian-American Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy says and has called for stronger strategic ties with New Delhi, including a military relationship in the Andaman Sea.
At 38, Ramaswamy is the youngest Republican presidential candidate. He is currently on a two-day trip to the crucial state of Iowa. On January 15, Iowa would kick off the 2024 Republican presidential primary season.
“A stronger relationship between the United States and India could help the United States declare independence from China. The United States today is economically dependent on China, but with a stronger relationship with India, it becomes easier to declare independence from that Chinese relationship,” Ramaswamy told PTI in a statement. interview.
A second-generation Indian-American, Ramaswamy founded Roivant Sciences in 2014 and led the largest biotechnology IPOs in 2015 and 2016, which ultimately led to successful clinical trials in several disease areas that led to FDA-approved products, according to his biography.
“The United States should also have a stronger strategic relationship with India, including even a military relationship in the Andaman Sea. Knowing that India, if necessary, could block the Straits of Malacca, where China obtains most of its oil supplies from the Middle East. Thus, these “There are areas where real improvement is needed in the relationship between the United States and India. I think it would be good for the United States and that’s exactly why I would lead accordingly,” Ramaswamy, a multi-millionaire biotech entrepreneur turned politician, said in response to a question.
His numbers in the polls rose after the first presidential debate in Milwaukee, Wis., on Aug. 23.
In the crosshairs of most Republican presidential candidates, including former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, former Vice President Mike Pence and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley; Ramaswamy suddenly rose through the ranks in the polls and in many polls he is ranked second after former President Donald Trump.
In his first interaction with the Indian media, Ramaswamy appeared to be a strong supporter of the growing India-US relationship, which has been a hallmark of several presidential administrations in the political aisle since the administration began. by Bill Clinton.
“I think he (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) has been a good leader for India, and I look forward to working with him to further strengthen the relationship between the United States and India,” said Ramaswamy in response to a question.
During the first Republican presidential debate, fellow Indian-American Haley told him he had no experience in foreign policy. But Ramaswamy developed his own vision of American foreign policy.
“The major challenge in American foreign policy is that we are not protecting the homeland. We are fighting wars that do not advance American interests while leaving the homeland vulnerable. So I think that is a mistake on the part of the United States to continue its engagement in “The Ukraine. It does not serve the national interest of the United States,” he said.
“On the contrary, I think it will actually hamper the credibility of the United States on the world stage. The United States must focus on Communist China. It is the main threat abroad. And the protection of the homeland must be the top priority in the country, with real defense capabilities of the frontier,” he argued.
“Nuclear defense, nuclear missile capabilities, super EMP, electromagnetic pulse strikes, cyber attacks, that’s where we need to focus our attention and then make sure we’re no longer dependent on our true enemy, Communist China, for our modern way. But many in the two-party establishment forgot that priority and focused too much on Ukraine,” Ramaswamy said.
China, the world’s second largest economy, remains the main source of US imports. Last year, bilateral trade hit a record high of $690.6 billion. US imports from China reached $536.8 billion, about 17% of their total imports. Exports to China amounted to $154 billion, or 7.5 percent of total US exports to the world, according to US media.
American companies have huge manufacturing networks in China and are dependent on Chinese consumers.
Ramaswamy has two sons Karthik, three, and Arjun, one. “They’re really excited about this journey we’re on. Karthik can tell his dad is running for president. I don’t know if he fully understands what that means. He’s only three years old. But I think ‘they feel it’s something important,’ he said when asked about his family.
“It’s a shared family project. They get excited every time we travel campaigning on this bus. They love this bus. But I think more seriously, I think they know their parents are doing something important and that they play an important role in this. I think it means something to them. I am grateful for that,” Ramaswamy said.
Asked about the role of Native Americans in his presidential campaign, Ramaswamy said, “The fact that I was the child of immigrants who came to this country with no money and continued to live the American dream of success from a young age. age. on the scale I have, it gives me a sense of conviction in this country, gives me a sense of certainty about what is possible in America. Because I lived it. And I feel a sense of duty to pass that on to the So I think being the child of immigrants who have come to this country looking for opportunity gives me that first personal passion to make that available to the next generation. Ramaswamy, if named vice president and then elected, would be the second youngest to hold the post, behind John Breckinridge who was second in command to President James Buchanan when he was just 36 years old.
Breckinridge was president from 1857 to 1861.
Ramaswamy is one of the richest Americans under 40. He studied biology at Harvard before earning a law degree at Yale and was briefly a billionaire before a stock market downturn reduced his fortune to just over $950 million, according to Forbes. .
He was raised in the Hindu faith by his parents but went to a Catholic high school.
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