The US says it considers India as a strategic partner, as well as an economic partner and sees their relations "growing and becoming stronger," under the administration of President Barack Obama.
"I don't see the US-India relation doing anything but growing and becoming stronger, no
matter who the next ambassador is," State Department spokesman Gordon Duguid told reporters on Friday when asked how relations would shape up with the return of David Mulford, a Bush appointee.
"The United States and India share many interests," he said noting, "We began with a strategic dialogue. We now see India as a strategic partner, as well as an economic partner."
"We have a growing amount of cross-trade," Duguid said. "We have a number of issues that we have been able to work together on over the last ten years or so, and we will continue on that trend, I foresee."
Asked about Indian concerns relating to proposed restrictions on H-1B visas for professional workers, outsourcing or protectionist trade measures, he said: "I see US-India relations becoming stronger and not negative policies being generated because of our growing contacts."