US Republican Senator Steve Daines on 19 May 2026 described India as one of America's most important geopolitical partners, arguing that trust between the two democracies would be the defining factor in the relationship's future. Daines made the remarks at the Capitol Hill Summit 2026, organised by the US-India Friendship Council in Washington.

Key Remarks at the Summit

The senator from Montana, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, was direct about the stakes involved. “We didn’t need this kind of friction, in my opinion, with one of the geopolitically most important relations we have, and that’s between the United States and India,” he said.

Daines invoked the late former US Secretary of State George Shultz to frame his argument on trust: “George Shultz once said, when trust was in the room, good things happened. When trust was not in the room, good things did not happen. Everything else is details.”

The China Contrast

Drawing on his earlier career working in Asia for Procter & Gamble before entering politics, Daines offered a vivid illustration of Washington’s relative confidence in New Delhi over Beijing. “When I go to China, this phone stays on my desk in Washington,” he said, holding up his mobile phone. “When I go to India, this phone goes with me.” The contrast underscored a broader US strategic posture: India is viewed as a trusted partner in ways that China is not.

Trade Tensions and Diplomatic Progress

Daines acknowledged recent friction in the bilateral relationship, including trade disagreements, but said both governments had worked through them. “I heard directly from our Indian partners and friends, both at the government level and in the business community, about this impasse that we had,” he said. “We worked it diligently.”

He also praised Ambassador Sergio Gor, whom he had recently accompanied on a visit to India, describing the envoy as a genuine advocate for bilateral opportunity. “You’ve got a really special ambassador here because he’s excited about India,” Daines said. “He sees all the opportunities there.”

STEM, Democracy, and Strategic Vision

Daines positioned India’s partnership with the United States as a counterweight to China’s growing influence, particularly in science and technology. “It’s the largest democracy in the world,” he said. “With partnership with the United States, we can put together a STEM ecosystem in terms of sheer human capital that can rival the size of the STEM ecosystem in China.”

He also spoke personally about the contributions of Indian Americans, noting that an Indian-origin doctor at MD Anderson Cancer Center had saved his father’s life. “Some of our very best minds are here in the United States in the healthcare profession,” he said. “I’m just grateful for that personally.”

What Comes Next

The summit brought together lawmakers, diplomats, business leaders, and policy experts at a moment of renewed debate over trade terms, visa policy, and strategic cooperation between Washington and New Delhi. Daines’s remarks signal that influential voices in the US Senate remain firmly committed to deepening the partnership despite near-term frictions. He closed on a personal note: “I love the country of India and the people. It’s not my last trip to India.”