WASHINGTON: The U.S. has strengthened its ties with India through constant diplomacy and the exchange of historic visits by heads of government, enhancing cooperation particularly in the fields of economy, security, science and clean energy, Secretary of State John Kerry said.

“Through constant diplomacy and the exchange of historic visits by our heads of government, we’ve strengthened our ties with India, the world’s largest democracy, on economic issues, security cooperation, science and clean energy,” Kerry told lawmakers during a Congressional hearing.

Testifying before the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, Kerry said as the world at present is marked both by stark tragedy and by great promise, America’s role is critical as are the resources that only the Congress can provide.

“So we ask for your help. America must lead, but cannot do so on the cheap. The money we devote to the entire range of foreign policy programming, everything from embassy security to our counter-terrorism and non-proliferation initiatives amounts to only about one percent of the federal budget, yet it may impact fifty per cent of the history that will be written about this era,” he said.

Kerry sought $ 3.5 billion to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) terrorist network, address the crisis in Syria, bolster regional security and respond to the humanitarian catastrophe brought on by the crises in Syria and Iraq.

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Source: PTI