New Delhi: US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage will arrive in New Delhi next week for talks with the Manmohan Singh Government on carrying forward the strategic partnership besides discussing Iraq, Afghanistan and other issues.

Armitage, who will reach here on July 13, is expected to call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and have meetings with External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and National Security Adviser J N Dixit. Describing the visit, the first by a senior member of the Bush Administration to India after the new Government assumed office here, as "very important," US Ambassador in New Delhi David Mulford said "the US-India relationship is running at the highest-possible level ever experienced".

The situation in Iraq is expected to figure prominently during talks Armitage will hold with his interlocutors here.

The US feels that India should "reassess" its approach towards Iraq in view of the transition process, which has begun there under UN mandate.

Washington would like India to clearly spell out its policy on Iraq.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has firmly ruled out in Parliament the question of sending Indian troops to Iraq.

Washington has been hoping that after the transitional Iraqi Government assumed charge last month, India and other countries would have a fresh look on the issue of sending their troops.