Eric Garcetti, a close aide to President Joe Biden, has been confirmed by the US Senate on Wednesday to serve as the nation’s next ambassador to India. Having been vacant for more than two years, the 52-year-old Garcetti will now assume the important diplomatic position.
With a 52-42 majority, the nomination of Garcetti was approved.
The former mayor of Los Angeles had been nominated by Biden for the renowned diplomatic position in July 2021, and his nomination had been pending before the US Congress since then.
According to Olivia Dalton, Principal Deputy Press Secretary, President Biden believes that Garcetti would make a strong and effective ambassador and that the US and India have a significant and consequential partnership.
“The President thanks Chairman Menendez and Senators on both sides of the aisle for their thorough consideration and for today’s bipartisan vote to confirm Mayor Garcetti,” Dalton said.
“The relationship between India and the US is a strong one, and one of great strategic, economic, and cultural importance. Founded on shared values, supported by growing economic and trade ties, and strengthened by the Indian diaspora here in the US, this partnership continues to hold significant promise for the future,” Senator Mark Warner, Co-Chair of Senate India Caucus, said.
“As co-chair of the Senate India Caucus, I am glad that there will finally be a Senate-confirmed ambassador in New Delhi,” Warner said.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved nomination last week
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved his nomination last week with a vote of 13 to 8 in favour. During the previous Congress, his nomination was not put up for a vote on the Senate floor because the Biden ally was not backed by enough members of the ruling Democratic Party.
In the first two years of President Biden’s administration, the Senate rejected Garcetti’s nomination due to concerns raised by some members on how the then-mayor had handled charges of sexual assault and harassment against a former senior assistant.
In January of this year, President Biden renominated Garcetti for the same job.
After the US changed governments in January 2021, Kenneth Juster, the last ambassadorial resident of the US in New Delhi, resigned.
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