India Will Shape 21st Century, Says US Official Months After ‘China Mistake’ Remark

Last Updated:May 07, 2026, 16:26 IST

This comes months after his controversial remark in March, where he said Trump administration would not repeat with India what he called America’s 'mistake' with China.

US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has described India as one of the world’s major powers and said Washington wants to be part of India’s growth story, months after his remarks on trade and China triggered criticism during the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi.

Speaking on the sidelines of the SelectUSA Investment Summit in Maryland on Tuesday, Landau said India’s importance on the global stage is growing rapidly and its rise will play a major role in shaping the 21st century.

“There’s no question that India is one of the great powers in the world," Landau said. He added that India, with the world’s largest population, holds massive economic potential and the United States is fully aware of its importance in global affairs.

Landau also said India and the United States are “very, very close" to finalising the long discussed trade agreement. According to him, both countries only need to cross the “last hurdle" before signing the deal and moving forward on other key issues in the bilateral relationship.

His latest comments come after controversy surrounding remarks he made at the Raisina Dialogue in March. During the event in New Delhi, Landau had said the Trump administration would not repeat with India what he described as America’s earlier “mistake" with China.

“India should understand that we’re not going to make the same mistakes that we made with China 20 years ago in terms of saying, ‘Oh, you know, we’re going to let you be able to develop all these markets and then, you know, the next thing we know is you’re beating us in a lot of commercial events’," Landau had said.

The remarks drew strong reactions from diplomats and foreign policy observers, many of whom viewed the statement as unusually blunt for a senior US official speaking in India. Reports at the time said several participants at the Raisina Dialogue were surprised by the tone of the speech and compared it to other recent hardline statements made by senior members of the Trump administration.

Timeline: Christopher Landau’s Remarks On India-US Trade Ties

March 2026: Raisina Dialogue, New Delhi

Landau said the US will not repeat the “China mistake" with India and stresses that any trade partnership must remain fair to American interests.

“India should understand that we are not going to make the same mistakes with India that we made with China 20 years ago in terms of saying, we are going to let you develop all these markets, and then, the next thing we know, you are beating us in a lot of commercial things. We are going to make sure that whatever we do is fair to our people. Because ultimately, we have to be accountable to our own people, just as the Government of India has to be accountable to its people," he had said.

March 2026: Trade Deal Nearing Completion

At the same event, he also said that the India-US trade agreement is “almost at the finish line" and could unlock major economic opportunities for both countries.

“We are very excited about the trade deal that is almost at the finish line now and think that can be the basis for really unlocking almost limitless potential, and so we are very much excited about focusing with India on these economic and commercial opportunities," he had stated.

May 2026: SelectUSA Investment Summit, Maryland

Landau described India as “one of the great powers in the world" and said the US wants to be part of India’s success story while confirming that trade negotiations are close to conclusion.

News world India Will Shape 21st Century, Says US Official Months After ‘China Mistake’ Remark

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