If Countries Were Stocks, I Would Buy India: US Senator Steve Daines Praises India’s Economic Rise, Calls Bilateral Ties Stronger Than Ever

Steve Daines, a Republican Senator from Montana and head of the Republican Party’s campaign arm for Senate elections, plays a key role in recruiting candidates, raising campaign funds, and shaping election strategies for President Donald Trump’s party. His position places him among the influential figures in American politics and close to the Republican leadership.

Speaking at the United States-India Strategic Partnership Forum Summit in Washington, DC, Daines said, “If countries were a stock, I’d be buying India right now,” while highlighting India’s remarkable economic performance.

Referring to global economic rankings, Daines said India is currently the world’s fifth-largest economy and is on track to become the fourth-largest economy. He noted that among the world’s top 20 economies by Gross Domestic Product, India has the highest economic growth rate this year and is projected to maintain that position next year.

India overtook the United Kingdom in 2021 to become the world’s fifth-largest economy. Japan currently occupies the fourth position but continues to face significant economic challenges, including an ageing population, mounting public debt, and broader global economic pressures.

“But of the top 20 countries in the world ranked by Gross Domestic Product, India has the largest growth rate in its Gross Domestic Product, not only for this year but also projected for next year. So, India’s on the rise,” Daines said.

The Republican Senator described India as the world’s largest democracy and one of the United States’ most trusted strategic partners. Stressing the importance of mutual confidence, he said trust remains the foundation of the relationship between the two nations.

Daines also stated that President Donald Trump remains committed to strengthening relations with India. He added that American companies are increasingly investing in India, reflecting growing economic cooperation between the two countries.

The Senator recently received the 2026 Public Service Award from the United States-India Strategic Partnership Forum. However, contrasting views on bilateral relations emerged during the same summit.

Democratic Representative Ro Khanna, who is of Indian origin, argued that relations between the United States and India are currently at their weakest point in three decades. Speaking separately at the summit, Khanna criticized the Trump administration’s foreign policy, particularly its actions involving Iran.

“The United States-India relationship has been at the lowest point in the last 30 years. Trump’s policies of getting into a war in Iran have been utterly destructive. It has been utterly destructive to the prices in India of gas. Talk to Jaishankar if you don’t believe me,” Khanna said.

Trade policy also remains an important issue in bilateral relations. Last year, President Donald Trump imposed punitive tariffs of 50 percent on Indian imports. Economists warned at the time that the tariffs could reduce India’s Gross Domestic Product growth by as much as one percentage point during the 2025 fiscal year.

Although the tariff levels have since been reduced to approximately 18 percent on most products, they remain comparable to those imposed on other manufacturing economies across Asia, many of which compete directly with India through lower-priced exports.

Highlighting the importance of people-to-people ties, Daines said the United States needs more Indian students and skilled professionals. He described human capital as one of the most valuable forms of national strength and emphasized that stronger educational and professional exchanges would benefit both countries.

“We need each other. We need more Indian students in America. We need more workers who come with skill sets that we need here in our country. One of the most important forms of capital is human capital,” Daines said.

His remarks come despite recent policy changes under the Trump administration that have made it more difficult for Indian students and professionals to enter the United States. The administration has introduced measures including the removal of the Optional Practical Training programme, which had served as a major employment pathway for international graduates, and a proposed application fee of 100,000 United States dollars for H-1B work visas. Indian students and skilled professionals had been among the largest beneficiaries of both programmes, alongside Chinese applicants.

Addressing concerns over attacks targeting Indian Americans, Daines strongly condemned hate crimes and said discrimination in any form must be challenged.

“Hate in any kind of form needs to be confronted no matter who it’s against,” he said, adding that most Indian Americans “feel very safe here.”

The contrasting remarks by senior Republican and Democratic leaders at the United States-India Strategic Partnership Forum underline the differing political assessments of the current state of bilateral relations. While Daines projected confidence in India’s economic future and the strategic partnership between the two democracies, Khanna expressed concern over recent policy decisions affecting trade, diplomacy, and people-to-people exchanges, highlighting the ongoing debate over the direction of United States-India relations.