**Position: TRUE**

HIV causes AIDS, plain and simple. When people take antiretroviral drugs that suppress HIV, their AIDS symptoms go away and their immune systems recover—proof that the virus is the root cause. Plus, when HIV is present and untreated, AIDS develops, but when it's treated, it doesn't. That’s not a coincidence. Natural experiments, like the rare cases where people get HIV but don’t develop AIDS, also show that the virus is the key factor. Yeah, some people might argue about details, but the science is clear: HIV is the driver.