After a wait of more than two years, Eric Garcetti has been voted as the US ambassador to India, by the US senate 52-42.
The last US ambassador to India was Kenneth Juster who left the office in January 2021. Even though Garcetti was nominated by US President Biden back in July 2021, his nomination lapsed in early of 2024 as there were hiccups in the process. Garcetti was being accused for disregarding claims of sexual harassment and assault made against a former top staffer.
The appointment comes at a very crucial and necessary time as India hosts the G20 conferences as a part of its G20 presidency tenure. Senate Majority Leader Senator Chuck Schumer said that the United States-India relationship is extremely important and that it’s beneficial that there is an ambassador now.
Garcetti who seemed elated at the result said that he is thrilled with the outcome, which was a decisive and bipartisan decision to fill a critical post that has been vacant for far too long and that the hard work begins now.
Who is Eric Garcetti?
Eric Michael Garcetti was born in Los Angeles in 1971. He is an alumnus of Colombia University with a Masters of International Affairs. Before his tenure at the Los Angeles City Council, he was a tutor at University of Southern California and Occidental College.
Eric Garcetti was elected to the City Council District 13 in 2001 and was re-elected in 2005 and 2009 as well. He held the position as the council president from 2006- 2012.
He is particularly known for his involvement in environmental matters. For instance, in 2004 he wrote a city stormwater bond to repair the city’s waterways which was accepted by more than 76% of the voters. Then in 2005, he played a key role in the founding of Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust. Garcetti wrote two of the most comprehensive municipal green construction codes in the country and also backed modifications to the city’s plumbing and landscaping codes that would encourage water saving.
Garcetti served as the Mayor of Los Angeles for two terms, starting from 2013 up to 2022. His term as a mayor is described as a liberal and practical one.
US ambassadors to India-
An ambassador is a recognized diplomat sent by a state to serve as its permanent envoy abroad. The US Embassy in India is situated in New Delhi. The first ambassador from US to Republic of India was Loy W. Henderson in 1950.
Prior to Eric Garcetti, India has had 25 Ambassadors and 8 Chargée d’affaires. When the ambassador is absent, a chargee d’affaires is a person chosen to lead the diplomatic mission abroad.
