Indo-US ties a defining relationship of 21st century: US

WASHINGTON: Identifying India as the one among the new centers of power in the world, a top Obama aide has said Indo-US ties is the defining relationship of the 21st century.

"Engagement means deepening cooperation with key centres of power. In Russia, the reset, has elevated relations to the best point in years. In China, we now have a broad- based strategic and economic dialogue. In India, which President Obama calls one of the defining relationships of the 21st century; and obviously in Brazil," US National Security Advisor, General (rtd) James Jones said.

"These are new realities, new centers of power and influence that are coming on the world scene and that we will have to engage with and will do constructively and effectively," Jones while addressing a gathering at the Center for American Progress, a Washington- based think-tank.

By engagement the Obama Administration was talking about renewing and strengthening alliances and partnerships, he added.

In Europe, the US has been working with NATO and the strategic-concept review that's ongoing and supporting European integration; in the Asia-Pacific region, it worked to strengthen alliances with Japan, South Korea, Australia, Thailand, the Philippines, and deepening cooperation with partners such as Indonesia and Malaysia.