Waltz’s Advocacy for India-US Partnership

Waltz, a Republican representative from Florida, serves as the co-chair of the Congressional India Caucus and has repeatedly called for a formal, strategic partnership between India and the US. He views this relationship as a win-win for both countries. Below are five key ways Waltz has championed greater India-US cooperation.

‘Time for an Alliance with India’

In 2021, Waltz co-authored an article in The Wall Street Journal where he argued for the formalization of the India-US relationship into a strategic alliance. Criticizing the Biden administration for not doing enough to support key allies, Waltz emphasized that strengthening ties with India should be a priority.

As he explained, India, with its vast military resources, nuclear capabilities, and robust economic and defense cooperation with the US, would be a powerful ally. An alliance, he argued, would enhance both nations’ global influence, and, alongside Japan and Australia, provide a formidable counterbalance to China and potential threats in Afghanistan.

‘India Recognizes China as a Threat’

Waltz has highlighted that India, like the United States, views China as an increasingly dangerous threat. In the WSJ article, he and co-author Nikki Haley pointed out that China is not only exploiting the US’s withdrawal from Afghanistan but also pressuring India on its borders. Both nations, they argued, share concerns over China’s growing military and geopolitical influence.

‘A Bulwark Against a Two-Front Conflict’

Waltz has stressed that an alliance with the US would be particularly beneficial for India, which faces military challenges on two fronts—Pakistan to the west and China to the north. He emphasized that a partnership with the US would help India strengthen its defenses and mitigate the risks posed by these two adversaries.

For the US, such an alliance would help counteract Pakistan’s destabilizing influence, particularly given the country’s ties to terrorism and its increasing reliance on Chinese investments. Waltz argued that, with India’s support, the US could more effectively thwart the rise of a “terrorist superstate” in the region, which could pose a direct threat to both countries.

Praise for India’s TikTok Ban

Waltz has been a vocal critic of Chinese tech companies, particularly TikTok. Following India’s 2020 ban on the app, he tweeted: “India has banned it. So should America.” At the time, US lawmakers were pushing for a similar ban, and Congress eventually passed legislation requiring TikTok to be sold to a non-China entity or face a ban. Outgoing President Joe Biden signed this bill into law.

‘The Most Important Partnership of the 21st Century’

During Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to the US in 2023, Waltz underscored the importance of the India-US relationship, calling it “the most important partnership” for the United States in the 21st century. He highlighted the deepening ties between the two nations, particularly in the context of growing global challenges.