'STRONGER US-INDIA TIES FOR 'INDEPENDENCE' FROM CHINA'

American firms have huge manufacturing networks in China and rely on Chinese consumers

A stronger relationship with India would help the US declare its "independence" from China, Indian-American Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy believes 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 ever. He is currently on a two-day swing to the crucial State of Iowa. On 15 January, Iowa would kick off the 2024 Republican presidential primary season.

"A stronger US-India relationship could help the US declare independence from China. The US is economically dependent on China today, but with a stronger relationship with India, it becomes easier to declare independence from that Chinese relationship," Ramaswamy told the media in an interview.

A second-generation Indian-American, Ramaswamy founded Roivant Sciences in 2014 and led the largest biotech IPOs of 2015 and 2016, eventually culminating in successful clinical trials in multiple disease areas that led to FDA-approved products, according to his bio.

"The US 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 Malacca Strait where actually China gets most of its Middle Eastern oil supplies. So, these are areas for real improvement in the US-India relationship.

"I think that would be good for the US and that's exactly why I would lead accordingly," Ramaswamy, a multimillionaire biotech entrepreneur-turned-politician, said in response to a question.