India is indispensable ally: US

The United States, which recently concluded its strategic dialogues with Pakistan and China, has said that India is its indispensable ally and will be one of the defining partnerships for America in the 21st century.

"President (Barack) Obama has called India an indispensable partner and has said that India will be one of the defining partnerships for the United States in the 21st century.

India matters to the United States because it's the world's largest democracy," Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake said.

"It has the world's second fastest growing economy and an economy that is a very important source for -- of exports for United States companies, and also because it is an increasingly important partner for the United States in addressing common global concerns.

In just 10 years, we've had a complete transformation in our bilateral relations and a transformation that enjoys bipartisan support both in India and the United States," Blake told reporters ahead of the first Cabinet-level Strategic Dialogue between the two countries.

"Perhaps most importantly, we see tremendous potential for growth in our relations with India.

That's why President Obama and Secretary of State (Hillary) Clinton decided to elevate our relations with India by establishing a strategic dialogue to be led by Secretary Clinton and her counterpart, External Affairs Minister (S M) Krishna," he said.

Clinton had announced this dialogue last summer on her trip to India, following which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was invited by Obama to be this Administration's first state visit in November, again, to reaffirm the importance that the US attach to its relations with India, Blake said.

Strongly refuting reports that the Obama Administration is not very much focused on India, Blake said the US attaches great importance to our relations with India as President Obama himself has said, this will be one of America's signature partnerships in the 21st century.