Raisina Dialogue 2026: U.S. foreign policy is to advance our national interests, says Christopher Landau

U.S. Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau stresses national interests and partnership with India at Raisina Dialogue 2026.

U.S. President Donald Trump wants to be the President of peace, especially since the international system hasn’t been able to achieve that, said Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau at the Raisina Dialogue underway in New Delhi on Thursday (March 5, 2026)

Speaking at a curtain-raiser session of the Raisina Dialogues titled “Power, Purpose, & Partnerships: American Foreign Policy in a New Era”, Mr. Landau said, “It is an indictment of the foreign policy establishment that we haven’t found solutions to the conflicts.”

For the American government, Mr. Landau said, the purpose of foreign policy of United States was to advance the country’s national interests. “We are not a charity organisation. We are not United Nations… However, America first does not mean America alone. Just as President Trump wants to make America great again, he will expect that the PM of India and other countries want to make their countries great,” he explained.

In this image posted on March 4, 2026, (from right) United States Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and U.S. Space Force's General Whiting (left) during a visit at the Akshardham temple, in New Delhi. Photo: X/@DelhiAkshardham via PTI

Mr. Landau, who is leading the U.S. delegation, said the century will see rise of India. “It is in our interest, and we think it’s also India’s interest to be partnered with us,” he said, adding that he was excited about the India-U.S. trade deal, “which is almost at the finishing line now”.

However, Mr. Landau had a warning for India: the U.S. will not make the same mistakes it did with China, “where we let you develop all these markets and then let you beat us with them”.