Strongly backing the Obama Administration's endeavour to deepen bilateral relationship with India, a powerful Republican Senator said Indo-US strategic ties would bring stability not only in the region but also across the world. Senator John Cornyn from Texas said he is looking forward to the state visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the US in a few months from now.

Noting that China is a rising power, economically and militarily, Cornyn said balance of power is certainly one component to the Indo-US relationship.

"Obviously we always hope for our peaceful resolution of our differences, but I have always believed as Ronald Reagan said that peace comes through strength and not through weaknesses. I think, a strong India, just like a strong United States, will benefit not only the region, but the world in terms of keeping that peace," he said.

During times of our history, we have not been as close as we might, but I think with the civil nuclear programme that President Bush championed along with Prime Minister Singh, we have demonstrated our sincerity at the strategic partnership that I think, would benefit both the countries and help stability not only in the region but also across the world," Cornyn said in an interview.

A powerful Republican Senator, Cornyn is founder and Co-Chair of the Senate India Caucus, which now has as many as 37 Senators. This is the only country-specific caucus in the Senate. Recently he organized a reception for the new Indian Ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar, in which nearly one-fourth of the Senators turned up.

"We are thankful to him for his support for stronger relations between US and India," said Ashok Mago, an eminent Indian American community leader from Texas.

Looking forward to visit India for his second trip sometime next year, the first being in 2004, Cornyn said, "India and the US share common values and share common challenges in a very dangerous world".

"We know both of our countries have been victimized by terrorist activity. We know India is a democratic country, largest democracy in the world and it would continue to have a very important impact in Asia and the balance of powers in the United States and across the globe," he said.

The first Senator to co-sponsor the Indo-US civilian nuclear deal in the Senate, Cornyn termed it as a "monumental development", in the relationship between the US and India.

"It demonstrated the confidence the United States had in India's democracy and leadership that the technology that would be used would for peaceful civilian purposes, which of course can protect against proliferation of nuclear materials.