India, US enter new era of relations: Mulford

The defence cooperation between them would help improve regional and global security and stability.

US Ambassador David C Mulford, who is at the centre of a controversy over his remarks on the nuclear deal with India, on Tuesday said Washington and New Delhi had "entered a new era" of relationship.

The defence cooperation between them would help improve regional and global security and stability.

Paying a visit to the American exhibits at the Defence Expo-2006 that opened in New Delhi on Tuesday morning, he described the defence ties between India and the US as a strategic partnership.

"The US and India have entered a new era," Mulford said.

He noted that there was growing cooperation between the US and India on security and a wide range of issues.

"Our defence cooperation enhances both of our nations' capabilities and will help to improve regional and global security and stability," the Ambassador said.

Mulford was at the centre of a controversy after his remarks that the Indo-US nuclear deal, signed on July 18 last year, could "die" in the American Congress if New Delhi did not oppose Iran's nuclear programme.