In 2020, India was laying the groundwork to deploy 5G telecom technology expected to transform economies and societies worldwide. China-based Huawei was the dominant vendor, with cheaper, faster, and more advanced technology than its competitors. However, Western intelligence agencies, including the US, suspected that Huawei would enable espionage by the Chinese government. Ahead of a meeting with the US president, India’s prime minister had to decide: should – and could – India deploy Huawei’s 5G equipment, despite its allies’ security concerns?