The nominee for the US ambassador to India, which had been vacant since the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration, was confirmed by the Senate.
According to the Associated Press, the US Senate voted on the 15th (local time) with 52 votes to 42 to approve Eric Garcetti’s nominee for ambassador to the island.
Ambassador Judo has been vacant since January 2021, when President Biden took office, and five substitute ambassadors, including Kenneth Juster, have taken the place.
President Biden nominated Eric Garcetti, former mayor of Los Angeles (LA), as the US ambassador to India in 2021 and 7, but the approval process has been delayed due to controversy around Garcetti’s aides.
While Ambassador Garcetti was mayor, controversy arose that Rick Jacobs, an aide to Garcetti, continuously sexually harassed and harassed Garcetti’s bodyguards in the city, but Garcetti did not tolerate or respond properly.
Republican Senator Todd Young (Indiana), who voted in favor of the day, said, “The immediate deployment of an ambassador to India is essential to national security. We can’t wait any longer,” he said.
India is a member of Quad, a four-party security consultative body led by the United States.
Senator Roger Marshall (Republican, Kansas) also said that having an ambassador in India is very important to develop relations among Quad members such as India, Australia and Japan and to keep China in check.
“We don’t agree with many of the policies promoted as mayor at that time, but I’m sure he’s a good person and will be a good ambassador,” Marshall said. “He answered my questions well.”
The White House responded that it welcomed the approval of the motion for the confirmation of Indian ambassador candidate Garcetti.
“We are building an important partnership with India and we believe Mayor Garcetti will be a strong and effective ambassador,” said White House Deputy Press Secretary Olivia Dalton.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.