Ramaswamy expressed his intention to propose a “deal” to Vladimir Putin that serves American interests by persuading Russia to disengage from its military alliance with China. To effectively address the growing challenge posed by China, it is crucial to prevent Russia from aligning closely with Beijing. Vivek Ramaswamy, an Indian-American Republican presidential candidate, emphasized this point on Thursday, affirming that, if elected, he would pursue this objective through diplomatic negotiations.
In an interview with Fox News, Ramaswamy outlined his approach as a potential U.S. president. He stated that he would offer to freeze the current boundaries of control between Ukraine and Russia, provide a firm commitment that NATO would not admit Ukraine as a member, and lift sanctions on Russia. In return, he proposed that Russia would need to sever its military partnership with China.
Ramaswamy articulated his vision, explaining, “I would craft a clear, strategic agreement that would secure approval from Vladimir Putin while advancing the interests of the United States. Here is what my plan entails: I would first freeze the existing territorial demarcations. Furthermore, I would commit firmly that NATO would not extend membership to Ukraine. This would be sufficient to garner Putin’s agreement, but I would demand an even greater concession.”
The 38-year-old successful biotech entrepreneur continued, “Russia must terminate its military alliances with China. Currently, our actions are driving Russia closer to China, and this military partnership between Russia and China poses the most significant threat to the United States today. In a reverse of Nixon’s diplomatic efforts in 1972, I would seek to separate Russia from China. Additionally, I would require Russia to withdraw its military presence from the Western Hemisphere. We would then reopen economic relations with Russia as part of this strategy.”
Ramaswamy emphasized that the reason China holds more significance today is due to the U.S. cutting off Russia from the Western world through actions such as targeting the Nord Stream pipelines and imposing sanctions. He stated, “By reestablishing economic ties with Russia, we reduce Russia’s incentive to maintain a close partnership with China. There are also signs of strain in the Russia-China relationship, including Russia’s arms sales to India and Vietnam, both of which share borders with China. Furthermore, Russia has opposed China’s plans to construct a railroad in northeastern China that leads to the ocean. So, there are vulnerabilities in that relationship.”
Meanwhile, another Indian-American Republican presidential candidate, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, criticized Ramaswamy for his stance against using U.S. military force against Iran. She emphasized that the U.S. would not prevent Israel from defending itself fully and that the U.S. remains supportive of Israel as an ally. Ramaswamy had expressed his reluctance to involve U.S. troops in a war with Iran but stressed the importance of ensuring Israel’s strength to deter Iran. Haley responded by highlighting Iran’s hostile rhetoric toward the U.S. and cautioned against underestimating the threat of a nuclear Iran. She referenced Ramaswamy’s position alongside Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the group of Democratic representatives known as the Squad, implying that he should not be considered a suitable candidate for the White House if he does not view a nuclear Iran as a threat to U.S. security.
