The relationship between India and the United States will be one of the defining partnership of the 21st century, outgoing US Secretary of State John Kerry said on Thursday. In his exit memo, Kerry said Washington should continue to work with New Delhi to “expand the vast areas of cooperation between the our nations”.

“In Asia, we have been standing side by side with our friends, strengthening sanctions on North Korea, improving regional missile defence capabilities, supporting the rule of law in the South China Sea and forging a strategic partnership with India, enhancing our ties with Vietnam and spurring democratic progress in Myanmar where a freely elected parliament has been seated for the first time,” Mr Kerry said.