Outgoing US ambassador to India, Nancy Powell, on Friday said that the ongoing elections in India would set the stage for next level of Indo-US ties, rejecting the contention that bilateral relationships were in doldrums.
“It has become fashionable for pundits to claim that India-US ties are in doldrums. I must disagree,” Powell said, addressing the American Chamber of Commerce annual general meeting. She added, “As I prepare to leave, I remain convinced that the relationship between India and the US will play a central role in global affairs in decades to come.”
Powell said the two sides had accomplished a lot during the past two years and had also “weathered a few storms.” She said they were cooperating on strategic issues such as a series of regional dialogues including US-India-Afghanistan, off-grid energy access and nuclear safety.