India-US close coordination has been significant amid Chinese aggression : Kenneth Juster

"I believe that no country has as strong and robust a defense and counterterrorism relationship with India as does the United States. Simply put, no other country does as much to contribute to the security of Indians and India," he said underscoring the significance of the close coordination between the US and India during this period.

"The Indo-Pacific region encompasses the world’s largest and fastest-growing economies and its most populous nations. More than 50 percent of international trade passes through its waters. The region is rich in natural resources. And it is fast becoming the center of gravity of the evolving international system," he said.

"Indeed, the tectonic plates of that system are shifting," Juster pointed out, adding that the shift was marked especially by the rise of China and, more recently, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has devastated health and economies in the Indo-Pacific and elsewhere. 

Pointing to China's expansionist policy, Juster said the region needs stability, leadership, and a democratic model for development that does not threaten the sovereignty of other countries. 

"This is why a strong and democratic India is an important partner to promote peace and prosperity," he said pointing out India's role in the Indo-Pacific region amid China's ambitious plans.

While Indo-US strategic partnership has been on an upward trajectory over the last two decades, the past four years stand out as a time of ambition and achievement in the relationship, Juster underscored.